Scherzer pitched for the La Crosse Loggers in 2004

Rochester, Minn. – Former La Crosse Logger and current Washington Nationals pitcher Max Scherzer was awarded his third Cy Young Award this week. Scherzer went 16-6 with a 2.51 ERA over 31 games. He also struck out a National League high 268 batters in 200.2 innings pitched and had a WHIP of 0.902.

“From striking out 50 batters in 33 innings and posting a 1.91 ERA in 2004 as a La Crosse Logger at Copeland Park, to by 2017 becoming one of ten pitchers to have won three Cy Young Awards, speaks volumes regarding the desire and talent of Max Scherzer,” said Northwoods League President Gary Hoover. “The Northwoods League is proud to have had him in the League and is thrilled for his continuing success, and can’t help but note with particular interest and appreciation, his public comments about the virtues of collegiate baseball and how it positively contributes to a pitcher’s development.”

Scherzer won his first Cy Young Award in 2013 with the Tigers when he went 21-3 and struck out 240 batters in 214.1 innings. His second award came last season when he was 20-7 with a 2.96 ERA and a Major League leading 284 strikeouts in 228.1 innings pitched. Scherzer led all of Major League Baseball in wins with 21 in 2013 and then led the American League with 18 in 2014 and the National League with 20 in 2016.

In 2004 with the Loggers Scherzer was 2-1, had six saves and combined on three shutouts to go along with his previously mentioned high strikeout totals.

“Another ‘Hall of Fame’ type of season for Max,” said Loggers General Manager Chris Goodell. “We are thrilled for Max (and his family) to be honored with his third Cy Young Award which firmly puts him on a very short list with some of the greatest pitchers to ever play the game.  We continue to feel honored to have been able to be a small part of his career, albeit a very important part of his development as a young pitcher back in 2004. He will always hold a very special place here in La Crosse and the Northwoods League.”

On the American League side, another former Logger had an impressive season as well. Current Boston Red Sox pitcher Chris Sale finished second in the American League Cy Young Award voting. Sale went 17-8 with a 2.90 ERA and he led all of Major League Baseball with 308 strikeouts in 214.1 innings pitched. In 2008 with the Loggers Sale had a 3.23 ERA in 15 games and struck out 74 batters in 53 innings.

“As a six-time All-Star and now someone who has finished in the top six in the Cy Young voting for six consecutive years, Chris has supplanted himself as one of the top pitchers in all of baseball,” said Loggers General Manager Chris Goodell.  “We’re honored that he chose to spend the summer of 2008 with us as part of his ascension to the top of the game.”

Scherzer and Sale were MLB All-Stars this past season and both were given the honor to start the game on the mound for their respective league.

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The Northwoods League is the proven leader in the development of elite college baseball players. Entering its 25th anniversary season, the Northwoods League is the largest organized baseball league in the world with 20 teams, drawing significantly more fans, in a friendly ballpark experience, than any league of its kind. A valuable training ground for coaches, umpires and front office staff, more than 185 Northwoods League players have advanced to Major League Baseball, including three-time Cy Young Award winner Max Scherzer (WAS), two-time World Series Champion Ben Zobrist (CHC) and MLB All-Stars Chris Sale (BOS), Jordan Zimmermann (DET), Curtis Granderson (LAD) and Lucas Duda (TBR). All league games are viewable live via the Northwoods League website. For more information, visit www.northwoodsleague.com or download the Northwoods League Mobile App on the Apple App Store or on Google Play