(Photo by Denis Poroy/Getty Images)
Lots of pitchers have reached 600 strikeouts in the history of MLB.
Some relievers have done it over the course of their careers.
It takes a special talent, however, to punch out 600 hitters as a reliever before turning 30.
That’s what San Diego Padres left-hander Josh Hader has been able to achieve this week.
Congrats to Josh Hader on collecting his 600th career strikeout tonight! pic.twitter.com/v7R2hPpOQf
— San Diego Padres (@Padres) June 14, 2023
There have been seasons in which Hader has accumulated more strikeouts than a lot of starting pitchers.
His unique fastball profile and funky delivery gifted him a chance to build an incredible career from the bullpen, and he has done just that.
First with the Milwaukee Brewers, and now with the Padres, Hader has a dominating 2.61 career ERA and the 600 strikeouts in an incredible 358.2 innings.
We haven’t checked out the numbers, but he has to be among the fastest hurlers to reach the milestone when it comes to innings pitched.
After a somewhat rocky 2022 with the Brewers and Friars (5.22 ERA), he is back to dominating the opposition in 2023 with a fantastic 1.37 ERA.
Even if he is sporting his lowest strikeout rate of his career this year, it’s still an incredible 35.9 percent, far better than the vast majority of MLB pitchers.
Hader is also playing for his next contract, as he will become a free agent after the World Series.
We have seen in recent years that MLB teams are not afraid to pay a premium for elite relief arms, and Hader certainly qualifies.
The New York Mets gave Edwin Diaz $100 million, and Hader is as talented and more accomplished.
Hader will become a very rich man in a few months.
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