DUNEDIN, Fla. — Max Scherzer is ready to tackle the challenge ahead.
The seasoned pitcher, who has claimed the prestigious Cy Young Award three times over an impressive 18-year career, made a notable impression in his spring training debut with the Toronto Blue Jays. On Tuesday, Scherzer allowed just one run while pitching two innings against the St. Louis Cardinals, showcasing the tenacity that fans have come to expect from him.
At 40 years old, Scherzer started the game a little shaky, giving up a leadoff triple to Victor Scott II. However, he quickly regained his composure and completed the outing by retiring the next six batters, four of them on strikeouts, with his fastball clocking in at 92-93 mph. Of his 34 pitches, 20 were strikes.
While Scherzer preferred to stay quiet about the specifics of his return performance, his focus remained on the bigger picture—being back in action after a limited season last year with Texas, where he only made nine starts due to injuries. Recently, Scherzer agreed to a $15.5 million one-year contract with Toronto.
“This isn’t about saying I’m good or bad today. It’s about feeling good, ticking another box, executing, and ultimately leaving the field healthy,” Scherzer mentioned, reflecting on the outing.
For Scherzer’s new teammates, this match was an introduction to his unique style. He declined the customary high-fives when returning to the dugout after his innings, keeping the focus purely on the game.
Manager John Schneider noted the unconventional moment with some humor, admitting, “We realized pretty quickly that high fives aren’t his thing. Those who tried regretted it!” he laughed.
To round off the eventful day, the Blue Jays managed to clinch a late-game victory over the Cardinals with a final score of 3-2, thereby maintaining a perfect 3-0 record in the Grapefruit League.
