Max Scherzer credits playing piano for saving his Hall of Fame career. He is one strikeout away from becoming the second pitcher in 24 years to reach 3,500 strikeouts.
Key points
Max Scherzer credits piano for his career longevity
He is one strikeout away from 3,500 strikeouts
Only 10 pitchers have reached this milestone in baseball history
Nolan Ryan is the all-time leader with 5,714 strikeouts
Justin Verlander is the only other pitcher to surpass 3,500 since 2002
Walter JohnsonNolan RyanMax ScherzerToronto Blue Jays
It has been Max Scherzerâs 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.
âThe cool thing is I really appreciate the history of this game, and itâs been played for over 100 years," Scherzer, 41, told USA TODAY Sports. âWhen you can kind of connect the eras, and have an accomplishment that only so many guys have gotten to that number, itâs humbling.ââ
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 Scherzerâs 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.
Max Scherzer pitched for the Blue Jays in the 2025 World Series.
Max Scherzer pitched for the Blue Jays in the 2025 World Series.
Max Scherzer stats are astounding
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 doesnât plan to hang around that long, but passing Walter Johnson (3,509) on the all-time strikeout list is mind-boggling to him.
Q&A
How many strikeouts does Max Scherzer need to reach 3,500?
Max Scherzer needs just one strikeout to reach 3,500 strikeouts.
Who is the all-time strikeout leader in MLB history?
Nolan Ryan holds the record for the most strikeouts in MLB history with 5,714.
What milestone is Max Scherzer close to achieving in MLB?
Max Scherzer is close to becoming the second pitcher in 24 years to surpass 3,500 strikeouts.
Which pitchers have surpassed 3,500 strikeouts in MLB history?
The only pitcher to surpass 3,500 strikeouts since Randy Johnson in 2002 is Justin Verlander.
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âPassing Walter Johnson, the Big Train, everyone knows who that is," Scherzer said. âYou just appreciate the game where it was, where it is now, and where itâs going to be. Itâs pretty special.ââ
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.
âIn the offseason, I tried every grip strength I could to try to address it,ââ Scherzer said, âand 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.
âI was drowning last year with my thumb injury," Scherzer said. âI 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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Scherzer, the eight-time All-Star, three-time Cy Young winner and two-time World Series champion with a career 222-119 record, was beyond frustrated when he decided to sit down at the piano. He took lessons as a kid, but decided to brush up on his skills with a few notes, keys and chords, just to ease his mind.
âI was just trying to get my kids to play the piano," Scherzer said. âAll right, Iâve got to learn a few songs to teach them now to play the piano. And when I did that, I noticed, oh, my fingers are sore from playing the piano. And I go pitch, and Iâm like, âWait a minute, my thumbâs better.
âI played a little bit more, played more with the kids, and my handâs even better. Iâm like, 'Oh my gosh, did I finally figure this out?â So I chased it. I tried to play as long as I can, and my fingers are really sore in between starts. Then, I get back out there, and my thumb pain was gone."
Scherzer couldnât believe it. He made 12 starts in the second half, and when the Blue Jays needed him the most, was 1-0 with a 3.76 ERA in the ALCS and the World Series.
It still boggles his mind that after all of the strength exercises, treatment and cortisone shots, it was a piano that has kept his career alive.
âI mean, I had tried everything,ââ he said. âEvery treatment, you name it, and this is what worked."
âI have to play the piano if I want to keep pitching'
Itâs not like the folks at the "New England Journal of Medicine" will be asking for Scherzerâs thoughts any time soon, but for all the trainers and medical staff that MLB teams employ, well, this could be a chapter for their books.
âWhy it works is because playing the piano is making you work through your fingertips,ââ Scherzer said. âSo, all of the grip strength exercises that we do goes through more of the palm of your hand and up higher. I needed my finger tips for the lower part of my hand. So, playing the piano was giving me a lot of finger strength.
âItâs like no one wants to run for five miles, but if you can play basketball and get the same conditioning, youâll do it. Same thing here. Iâm doing something I can have with, and itâs a challenge to figure out how to play."
Nowadays, the portable keyboard travels wherever Scherzer goes. When Blue Jays manager John Schneider was talking to reporters in his visiting office at Chase Field last week, the sounds of Scherzer could be heard through the walls. He was playing Dr. Dreâs âStill D.R.E.,â Eminemâs âLose Yourself,â Meek Millâs âDreams and Nightmares," and a little bit of the intro to Kanye Westâs âHeartless,â too.
âI have to play the piano," Scherzer said, âif I want to keep pitching. If I donât do it, my thumb issue will come right back."
So, Scherzer will play at least three or four times a week, an hour or two at a time. He doesnât know how to read music yet, but has learned by watching YouTube tutorials with a blend of âGuitar Hero.â Heâll play in his hotel room, hotel lobbies, the clubhouse, or even the team plane.
His wife, Erica, is playing the piano, too, along with his kids. Blue Jays catcher Alejandro Kirk, whoâs on the injured list with a fractured and dislocated thumb, says heâs even willing to give it a go.
âIâm trying to get him to learn some [Eddie] Van Halen," Schneider said.
In the meantime, Scherzer has more strikeout victims in his path. He grew up in the St. Louis area, and was a diehard Cardinals fan who idolized the legend of Gibson. He was in awe of Johnson, Pedro Martinez and John Smoltz as a young pitcher, all who are enshrined in Cooperstown.
Now, his name will be in the same conversation as those strikeout greats.
âGrowing up in St. Louis, Iâll always have a bias towards Gibson," Scherzer said. âIâve gotten to appreciate how good Tom Seaver was. And to see Nolan Ryan have 5,700 strikeouts is just unbelievable. What an iron horse.
âSo, to be on the same list of those guys, I canât even describe it."
And, to think, if not for the assistance of a mere piano, being one of baseballâs top-10 strikeout artists would never be a reality.
âAmazing," Scherzer said, âwhat a piano is doing for my career."
