Four pitchers are counted as active pitchers who have reserved the Hall of Fame.
Justin Verlander, Max Scherzer, Clayton Kershaw and Jack Greinke. Of the four, Verlander is the oldest, born in February 1983. Greinke, born in October of the same year, is the second oldest.
Verlander, who received Tommy John surgery two years ago, successfully revived last year and received the Cy Young Award, and transferred to the New York Mets after receiving the highest treatment ever in the free agent market for two years, $86.67 million, an annual average of $43.33 million.
Kershaw signed a contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers early for $20 million for one year, and Scherzer is preparing for the second season of the three-year, $130 million contract he signed with the Mets. However, Greinke returned to his ‘parent’ Kansas City Royals last year after 12 years and played an active role by throwing 137 innings in 26 games, recording 4 wins and 9 losses and an average ERA of 3.68, but he could not be sure of renewing the contract.
There is no team called in the free agent market, and the Kansas City club was not very active in renewing his contract. He eventually agreed to a one-year contract three weeks before the start of spring camp. The terms of his contract have yet to be disclosed, but MLB.com estimates it to be between $8 million and $10 million. His last year salary was $13 million.
Grainke, who was drafted in the first round of the 2002 draft, made his 2004 debut and this year is his 20th major league season.
In a total of 556 games (514 starts), he recorded 223 wins and 141 losses, an average ERA of 3.42, 3247 innings, 2882 strikeouts, and fWAR of 76.4. Among active pitchers, he ranks first in starting games and pitching innings, second in wins following Verlander (223 wins), and third in strikeouts. fWAR is third overall behind Mike Trout and Verlander.
Greinke, who won the American League Cy Young Award in 2009, has maintained a top-notch position not only in pitching but also in batting and defense, as evidenced by six All-Stars, six Gold Gloves, and two Silver Sluggers.
Greinke struggled with depression and social anxiety disorder in his early professional years. He even tried to quit baseball in 2005 when he broke away from training after suffering the most losses in the league with 17. However, he rose to the top pitcher after receiving consistent treatment, including psychological counseling, and burning his will. 스포츠토토
Greinke, who is 40 years old this year, is a pitcher well past his prime. Last year, the average speed of a fastball was 89.1 miles, which was only in the bottom 4% of all pitchers, and the strikeout rate was last at 12.5% among 140 pitchers who threw 100 or more innings. In 2009, when he was 26 years old, his fastball average speed was 94.4 mph.
Still, Greinke posted two earned runs or less in 17 of 26 games last year and had an above-average ERA+ of 111. Although he has been on the injured list twice, he is preparing for the season healthy this year. In particular, the Kansas City club expects Greinke to lead his juniors well as the eldest on the mound. All of Kansas City’s pitchers are under the age of 26, excluding Greinke.
Brady Singer (August 1996), Daniel Lynch (November 1996), Chris Bubich (August 1997), Jonathan Heathley (January 1997), Carlos Hernandez (March 1997), Angel Serpa (August 1997) September 1999), etc.