born july american professional baseball pitcher major_league_baseball mlb played college baseball cardinals selected round major_league_baseball draft year minor leagues mlb debut following strong regular season earned national league championship series valuable yielding run hits postseason innings pitched early life born iowa tom second children older brother charlie younger brother lucas younger sister years old family moved iowa city texas future college coach spotted pitching game father coach sister uncle pitched cincinnati reds organization amateur career attended texas played school baseball basketball teams basketball player years forward honored team district way advancing school regional finals senior year junior baseball season posted record pitching hawks state finals senior led hawks state semi finals senior year win loss record record time state selection selected state team state tournament team academically member basketball earned team academic state honors played years college baseball point stood inches tall weighed pounds threw fastball velocity miles hour miles hour freshman campaign starts total appearances posted earned run average era record registered strikeouts walks innings pitched wins ranked fifth era sixth big conference performance named freshman american sophomore year posted record starts era performance earned spot team american big second team member pitched big championship ncaa college station regional college world series end sophomore year professional career draft minor leagues cardinals selected round 19th overall selection mlb draft signed million june draft slot originally belonged anaheim signing free agent surrendered cardinals cardinals director scouting future starter cardinals size competitive nature drew favorable comparisons right ascended quickly minor leagues cardinals assigned cardinals promoted finally double season ended innings pitched levels struck batters allowed hits walks runs springfield pitched innings struck batters allowed home run cardinals invited major league spring training camp impressed team management players alike striking batters allowing walk run thirds innings work reassigned minor league camp started season memphis going league leading era games started overall season totals memphis included era starts present rookie season cardinals activated major league debut stadium days throwing pitch standing major league mound time bat majors singled right center field mound demonstrated pitching ability rapidly minor leagues retired faced giving hit double fifth inning runner scored hit pitched seven innings pitches strikes giving hits run walking striking leaving lead lost chance win ninth relieved gave tying home run batter faced scored runs second start turned decision earned mlb win june cardinals beat new_york_mets field game got rough start gave home run second met batter faced walked saw team fall runs inning rebounded scattered hits walks total innings work career start days earning major league win cardinals optioned memphis clear roster room pitcher returned disabled list stint cardinals posted record era starts cardinals recalled mid august roster stay remainder season started game chicago_cubs moved bullpen manager placed rotation september pitched shutout innings hits cincinnati_reds encompassing regular season game playoff appearances authored series performances september pitched hitter innings ended infield single glove washington hit cardinals prevailed potential hitter lost final season finished regular season major leagues appearing games making starts pitching innings surrendered hits runs home runs struck hitters era playoff experience october started major_league playoff game innings game elimination game pittsburgh pirates surrendered hit home run walks hit performances announced start game game october innings victory los_angeles_dodgers 11th start mlb career joined pitchers franchise history strike batters yielding runs consecutive postseason starts facing game yielded hits seven innings opponent victory sent cardinals world series won starts holding dodgers batting average walks scoreless earned mvp fourth rookie win postseason mvp following world series world series allowed run hits striking starting game world series boston_red_sox pitched innings cardinals victory said game didn best stuff surrendering home run tied gibson longest scoreless streak innings cardinals postseason history 17th youngest pitcher overall win world series game second youngest cardinals history game cardinals facing elimination called save season winning consecutive playoff starts era hits allowed innings opponents batting average finally solved runs innings way defeating cardinals eighth world series title present guaranteed regular post rotation outset season starts came reds receiving win decision strong start career included hits walks allowed era april start new_york_mets struck batters innings 11th occurrence expansion era miles hour winds struck total innings walked required pitches walks proved costly bases loaded took advantage triumph starts included era pitching lingering shoulder discomfort fatigue june cardinals placed june series magnetic resonance images revealed injury termed stress reaction throwing arm stress reaction apparently case shoulder repairing fast strain regular pitching caused bone similar stress fracture injury suffered deemed severe according medical opinion injury process injury progressed far mccarthy fracture occur cardinals general manager stated precursor stress fracture precursor fracture correct limited knowledge related processes cardinals training medical staff researched methods treat injury course happening likewise uncertain return play surrendered series ending run walk home run san_francisco_giants ninth inning game giants prevailed cardinals won starts credited winner seven era cardinal start record started selected star game played great american ball park cincinnati cardinals days august starts concerns shoulder point era whip game cubs october surrendered home runs innings loss pitching profile standing inches tall weighing pounds repeats delivery pitches featuring sinking fastball usually travels miles hour miles hour frequently shows velocity miles hour high arm angle release point create substantial downward action fastball fastball complement features deep fading movement right handed hitters miles hour miles hour decrease velocity fastball arm angle pitches arm speed appears virtually identical hitter difference velocity pitch average travels miles hour improved break consistency college scouts considered average pitch fourth pitch lacks consistent break horizontally similar cutter attributed increase pitch velocity gaining weight physical exercise increased food consumption asserting felt like velocity kept increasing single year changed mechanics little bit college added added cut fastball commonly called cutter late season threw pitch time spring training showed increased confidence pitch finding consistent grip depending source shows wide range potential scouting reports initially projected potential plus plus pitches fastball command baseball noted polish pitch command helped fast track vigorous fastball life importance command shortage sizable vertical movement pronounced descent fastball curve travel create additional obstacle hitters attempt square bat pitch addition drop elevation changes hitter eye level previously criticized heavy reliance fastball lacking solid breaking pitch baseball prospect nation commented development occasional pitch add element game allow refined pitch ability work lineup bat easily batter maintains mound fastball plus plus pitches improved command baseball prospect nation conclude likely future solid number starter command curve markedly improved projections initial reports stated enhance reliability able low end number starter scout project future rotation guy awards personal life play pronunciation names phenomenon following favorite catch phrase similarity sound effects man arcade game restaurant named following mvp honors ingredients included chocolate chips remember restaurant believed stated added little baseball flair
Michael Wacha