It has been Max Scherzer’s extraordinary talent, work ethic and health that have put him in rarified air, but it was a simple piano session that has enabled him to go where only 10 men have ever gone in baseball history.
Scherzer, scheduled to start Friday for the Toronto Blue Jays against the Cleveland Guardians, needs just one strikeout to become only the second pitcher to eclipse 3,500 strikeouts in the past 24 years. He is just 11 strikeouts shy of passing legendary Walter Johnson to crack the top-10 in baseball history.
“The cool thing is I really appreciate the history of this game, and it’s been played for over 100 years," Scherzer, 41, told USA TODAY Sports. “When you can kind of connect the eras, and have an accomplishment that only so many guys have gotten to that number, it’s humbling.’’
While Nolan Ryan is the all-time strikeout leader with 5,714, the only player to eclipse the 3,500-strikeout barrier since Hall of Famer Randy Johnson in 2002 is Scherzer’s former Detroit Tigers and New York Mets teammate, Justin Verlander. He accomplished the feat last September with the San Francisco Giants, and has 55 more strikeouts than Scherzer while pitching 92 more innings.
There are only four pitchers in history who have struck out at least 4,000 batters: Ryan (5,714), Randy Johnson (4,875), Roger Clemens (4,672) and Steve Carlton (4,136). Scherzer doesn’t plan to hang around that long, but passing Walter Johnson (3,509) on the all-time strikeout list is mind-boggling to him.
“Passing Walter Johnson, the Big Train, everyone knows who that is," Scherzer said. “You just appreciate the game where it was, where it is now, and where it’s going to be. It’s pretty special.’’
And to think, without sitting down and learning how to play the piano again last July at his rental Toronto condo, he might be sitting home with his wife and four kids in Jupiter, Flaorida these days, retired from the game.
Scherzer says that twice last year he was one more missed start, or even a missed bullpen session, from taking off his uniform for the final time.
Simply, Scherzer was exasperated, believing his inflamed right thumb would never allow him to again be an effective starter. He thought the thumb might have been the root of his strained right teres major muscle in 2023, and his shoulder fatigue that sidelined him for six weeks in the second half of 2024.
“In the offseason, I tried every grip strength I could to try to address it,’’ Scherzer said, “and I thought I did. But as soon as the [2025] season started, it blew right back on me."
He made one start in 2025, was back on the injured list for three months, and came oh so close to calling it a career before sitting down at that piano.
“I was drowning last year with my thumb injury," Scherzer said. “I tried every grip strength exercise I could to address it, but would pitch with pain, but every time I would pitch with pain, I would blow out my shoulder. So, it was definitely a career-threatening injury that I had going on."
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1 / 21Ballpark vibes, big plays and wild celebrations during 2026 MLB seasonThe Athletics Lawrence Butler is tagged out by Chicago White Sox third baseman Miguel Vargas as he tires to extend his double into a triple during the eighth inning at Sutter Health Park on April 18, 2026.1 / 21Ballpark vibes, big plays and wild celebrations during 2026 MLB seasonThe Athletics Lawrence Butler is tagged out by Chicago White Sox third baseman Miguel Vargas as he tires to extend his double into a triple during the eighth inning at Sutter Health Park on April 18, 2026.2 / 21Ballpark vibes, big plays and wild celebrations during 2026 MLB seasonCleveland Guardians mascot Slider interacts with fans during game against the Baltimore Orioles at Progressive Field on April 17, 2026.3 / 21Ballpark vibes, big plays and wild celebrations during 2026 MLB seasonWashington Nationals right fielder Daylen Lile attempts to catch a ball hit for a single by the Pittsburgh Pirates' Jake Mangum during the first inning at PNC Park on April 16, 2026. The Nationals won the game, 8-7.4 / 21Ballpark vibes, big plays and wild celebrations during 2026 MLB seasonMilwaukee Brewers catcher Gary Sanchez wears a special chest protector to commemorate Jackie Robinson Day during the game against the Toronto Blue Jays at American Family Field on April 15, 2026.
The Pittsburgh Pirates' Konnor Griffin celebrates with a traffic cone after making his major-league debut in a 5-4 defeat of the Baltimore Orioles at PNC Park on April 3, 2026.
Cleveland Guardians players warm up as the launch of NASA's Artemis II is shown on the center-field video board at Dodger Stadium on April 1, 2026.
Two F-35C planes from Air Test and Evaluation Squadron NINE Detachment Edwards Air Force Base perform a flyover before the Opening Day game between the Arizona Diamondbacks and Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodger Stadium on March 26, 2026.