From World Series glory to minor league rehab: Max Scherzer’s journey back to the mound after surgery

The 39-year-old Texas Rangers right-hander, Max Scherzer, 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. The plan is for him to throw about 50 pitches against the Los Angeles Angels’ affiliate team, after throwing 40 pitches in a simulated game last Friday.

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

Scherzer joined the Rangers last summer as a trade-deadline acquisition and posted a 4-2 record with a 3.20 ERA in eight starts 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.