300 K

 

There are more strikeouts in baseball games these days and for some teams, there are more strikeouts than hits so far this season. These years, several pitchers reached 300 strikeouts in a single season.

In 2002, Hall of Famer Randy Johnson punched out 334 batters over 260 innings. It was his 6th season to finish with at least 300 strikeouts. The 2002 season was a great one for the big unit, he earned 24 wins with a 2.32 ERA and a 1.03 WHIP. Without many doubts, he won the National League Cy Young award. Moreover, in the same season, Curt Schilling, the big unit’s teammate at the Diamondbacks, threw 259.1 innings and struck out 316 batters. Thus, the Diamondbacks had two pitchers to throw at least 300 strikeouts in the 2002 season. Back then, there was little doubt to call Johnson and Schilling the best 1-2 pitching combo. However, since then, it had been a while without seeing a pitcher throw at least 300 strikeouts in a single season. The next pitcher to throw 300 strikeouts in a single season was Clayton Kershaw. It wasn’t an easy job. Clayton Kershaw threw 7 strikeouts over 3.2 innings in the final game of the 2015 season to reach the 300 strikeouts. In total, Kershaw tossed 232.2 innings in 2015 and he punched out 301 batters. In 2017, Chris Sale became another pitcher to record at least 300 strikeouts in a single season. Chris Sale made 32 starts and threw 214.1 innings in that season. In total, he struck out 308 batters and his K/9 rate was an amazing 12.93. A K/9 rate of 12.93 in a single season is the 6th highest in MLB history. The next season, Max Scherzer joined the 300-K club. Scherzer tossed 220.2 innings in 2018 and threw exactly 300 strikeouts. His K/9 rate was 12.24 in 2018. In 2019, two pitchers from the Astros joined the 300-K club. Justin Verlander hasn’t pitched yet in the 2021 season. However, he already joined the 3000 strikeout club. Nonetheless, the 2019 season was the only season that he recorded 300 strikeouts. Verlander won the AL Cy Young award again in 2019. The other pitcher to join the 300-K club in 2019 was Gerrit Cole, who finished 2nd in the AL Cy Young voting. Cole tossed 212.1 innings in 2019 and punched out 326 batters. His K/9 rate was a sensational 13.82. A K/9 rate of 13.82 in a single season was the 2nd highest in MLB history. By far, Robbie Ray leads the majors with 233 strikeouts and his K/9 rate is 11.83. There are less than 3 weeks to remain in the rest of the season, it might be very difficult to see him reach 300 strikeouts this season. Hence, we probably won’t see a pitcher to throw 300 strikeouts in the 2021 season. However, who will be the next pitcher to throw at least 300 strikeouts in a single season? Shane Bieber’s K/9 rate was 14.20 last season and his K/9 rate is 12.90 this season. If he’s not injured, it’s possible to see him join the 300-K club. Additionally, will Chris Sale, Justin Verlander or Gerrit Cole have another season to record 300 strikeouts?