Max Scherzer: A Timeline of Injury and Resilience Following Back Surgery

Max Scherzer, the 39-year-old Texas Rangers right-hander and three-time Cy Young Award winner, is set to make a minor league rehab start on Wednesday night. This will be his first game action since undergoing back surgery during the offseason. Scherzer is scheduled to start for Triple-A Round Rock at home against Salt Lake.

Scherzer underwent surgery on December 15 to repair a herniated disk in his lower back. The procedure followed his exit from Game 3 of the World Series due to back discomfort. An MRI conducted after the World Series victory showed inflammation in Scherzer’s back. Despite feeling better initially, he later experienced nerve pain in his leg and received two epidural injections. Another MRI revealed the herniated disk that required surgery.

Rangers manager Bruce Bochy and Scherzer have confirmed the details of the rehab start. The plan is for Scherzer to throw about 50 pitches against the Los Angeles Angels’ affiliate team, after throwing 40 pitches in a simulated game last Friday. This will be an opportunity for him to test out his back and get back into game action before making a return to the majors.

Scherzer joined the Rangers last summer as a trade-deadline acquisition. In eight starts, he posted a 4-2 record with a 3.20 ERA before missing the final two weeks of the regular season and the first two playoff rounds due to a strained muscle in his right shoulder. With 3,367 career strikeouts, Scherzer leads all active pitchers by 21 strikeouts (more than Justin Verlander), and ranks second among active pitchers with 214 wins and 448 games started.