In a remarkable achievement, Max Scherzer of the Toronto Blue Jays surpassed Hall of Famer Gaylord Perry on Sunday to claim the ninth spot on the all-time career strikeout list. The three-time Cy Young Award winner reached this milestone by striking out Cal Raleigh of the Seattle Mariners, marking his 3,535th career strikeout in the seventh inning. The sellout crowd of 42,039 spectators at the game stood up for a standing ovation when Scherzer’s record was displayed on the scoreboard.
Expressing his gratitude, Scherzer acknowledged the significance of moving up in the top 10 all-time strikeout leaders and appreciated the support of his teammates and fans. He described the moment as special and highlighted the enthusiasm of the home crowd during the achievement.
During the game, Scherzer recorded a season-high 10 strikeouts, with this being the 115th time in his career that he has achieved double-digit strikeouts in a game. His stellar performance also included allowing just one hit over seven innings, securing his first win since the season opener in March. Notably, Scherzer threw a season-high 97 pitches, with an impressive 67 strikes.
In a rare feat, Scherzer, aged 42, became only the third pitcher in MLB history aged 42 or older to throw seven or more innings, strike out 10 or more batters, and allow two or fewer baserunners in a single game. His exceptional performance drew comparisons to his prime years, with Manager John Schneider commending Scherzer’s precision and pitch selection as reminiscent of “vintage Max.”
Continuing his legacy, Scherzer’s recent accomplishments have seen him surpassing former teammate Kyle Schwarber earlier this month and now standing in 9th place in the all-time strikeout rankings. Currently, with 3,554 strikeouts, the injured Justin Verlander holds the eighth spot as the only other active pitcher in the top 10. Scherzer, the eighth overall pick in the 2006 draft by the Arizona Diamondbacks, boasts an impressive career as an eight-time All-Star and two-time World Series champion, having played for various teams including Detroit, Washington, the Los Angeles Dodgers, the New York Mets, and Texas.