Michael Wacha

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Michael Wacha

Wacha in August 2013
St. Louis Cardinals – No. 52
Pitcher
Born: (1991-07-01) July 1, 1991
Iowa City, Iowa
Bats: Right Throws: Right
MLB debut
May 30, 2013 for the St. Louis Cardinals
Career statistics
(through 2013 season)
Win–loss record 4–1
Earned run average 2.78
Strikeouts 65
WHIP 1.10
Teams

Career highlights and awards

Michael Joseph Wacha (born July 1, 1991), nicknamed Wacha Wacha, is an American professional baseball pitcher in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the St. Louis Cardinals. He played college baseball for the Texas A&M Aggies.

The Cardinals selected Wacha in the first round of the 2012 Major League Baseball Draft. With just one year in the minor leagues, he made his MLB debut on May 30, 2013. Following a strong regular season, Wacha earned the 2013 National League Championship Series Most Valuable Player Award, after yielding one run and eight hits in his first 21 postseason innings pitched.

Early life

Michael Wacha was born in Iowa City, Iowa, to Tom and Karen Wacha as the second of four children. He has one older brother, Charlie, one younger brother, Lucas, and a younger sister, Brette.[1] When Wacha was three years old, his family moved from Iowa City to Texarkana, Texas. His future college coach, Rob Childress, first spotted Wacha pitching in an American Legion game; Wacha's father was the coach and his sister the batgirl.[2] Wacha's uncle, Dusty Rogers, pitched in the Cincinnati Reds organization from 1984 through 1988.[1][3]

Amateur career

Wacha attended Pleasant Grove High School in Texarkana, Texas, where he played for the school's baseball and basketball teams.[4][5] As a basketball player, he lettered three years as a forward and was honored on the first-team all-district on his way to advancing his school to the regional finals during his senior year. In his junior baseball season, Wacha posted a 16–3 W–L record, pitching the Hawks to the state finals. As a senior, he led the Hawks to the state semi-finals in his senior year in 2009 with a 6–3 won-lost record (W–L record). Wacha was a two-time all-state selection; he was selected to the all-state first-team and all-state tournament team. Excelling academically, Wacha was a member of the National Honor Society; in basketball, Wacha earned first-team academic all-state honors.[1]

As an enrollee at Texas A&M University, Wacha played three years of college baseball for the Texas A&M Aggies. At this point, Wacha stood 6' 5" (77 inches (200 cm)) tall, weighed 180 pounds (82 kg) and threw his fastball with a velocity between 84 miles per hour (135 km/h) and 88 miles per hour (142 km/h).[6] During his freshman campaign, he made ten starts in 25 total appearances and posted a 2.90 earned run average (ERA) and a 9–2 W–L record. Wacha also registered 97 strikeouts (SO) and 22 walks (BB) in 105 2⁄3 innings pitched (IP). His nine wins ranked fifth and 2.90 ERA sixth in the Big 12 Conference. For his performance, Louisville Slugger named Wacha a freshman All-American. In his sophomore year, Wacha posted a 9-4 record in 16 starts with 123 SOs and just 20 BB and a 2.29 ERA in 129 2⁄3 IP. That performance earned him a spot as a Third Team All-American and All-Big 12 Second Team.[1][7][8] Wacha was a member of the USA Baseball Collegiate National Team. He also pitched in the Big 12 Championship, NCAA College Station Regional and College World Series at the end of his sophomore year.[1][7]

Professional career

Draft and minor leagues (2012–13)

The Cardinals selected Wacha in the first round with the 19th overall selection of the 2012 MLB Draft and signed him for $1.9 million on June 14, 2012. His draft slot originally belonged to the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, who, upon signing Albert Pujols as a free agent, surrendered it to the Cardinals.[8][9] Cardinals director of scouting Dan Kantrovitz foresaw Wacha as a future starter for the Cardinals whose size and competitive nature drew favorable comparisons with right-handers Chris Carpenter and Adam Wainwright.[7] Ascending quickly through the minor leagues, the Cardinals first assigned Wacha to the Gulf Coast League (Rookie League) Cardinals, then promoted him to the Palm Beach Cardinals in the Florida State League and finally to the Springfield Cardinals of the Double-A Texas League before the 2012 season ended.[10] In 21 innings pitched (IP) between the three levels, he struck out 40 batters, allowed just eight hits, four walks and two runs. With Springfield, he pitched eight innings, struck out 17 batters, and allowed just one home run (HR).[11]

The Cardinals invited Wacha to their major league spring training camp in 2013. He impressed team management and players alike, striking out fifteen batters while only allowing one walk and one unearned run in eleven and two-thirds innings of work before being reassigned to the minor league camp.[12]

"I think that guy, right now, can pitch in the big league. That's the way I look at it. He has great stuff. He has a great presence on the mound."

—Catcher Yadier Molina on Wacha in spring training, 2013, his first in MLB[12]

Wacha started the 2013 season with the Memphis Redbirds of the Class AAA Pacific Coast League, going 4–0 with a league-leading 2.05 ERA in nine games started and 52 2⁄3 IP before his first call-up to the Major Leagues. His overall season totals at Memphis included a 2.65 ERA in 15 starts, 73 SO and 85 IP.[11]

St. Louis Cardinals (2013–present)

The Cardinals activated Wacha on May 30 to make his major league debut against the Kansas City Royals at Busch Stadium. Just 364 days after throwing his last pitch for Texas A&M, Wacha was standing on a major league mound for the first time.[13][14]

In his first at-bat in the majors, Wacha singled to right-center field. On the mound, he demonstrated the prodigious pitching ability that rapidly shuttled him through the minor leagues when he retired the first 13 Royals he faced before giving up a hit, a double in the fifth inning. That runner then scored after another hit. He pitched seven innings with 93 pitches (67 strikes), giving up only two hits and one run, walking none, and striking out six, leaving with a 2–1 lead. Wacha lost the chance for a win in the ninth, when Mitchell Boggs relieved and gave up a tying home run to the first batter he faced.[15]

The Arizona Diamondbacks scored six runs against Wacha in his second start, which turned out to be a no-decision on his part. Wacha earned his first MLB win on June 11 as the Cardinals beat the New York Mets 9–2 at Citi Field.[16] The game got off to a rough start as he gave up a home run to the second Met batter he faced, walked three others and saw his team fall behind two runs in the first inning. However, he rebounded and scattered five hits and no more walks over six total innings of work. It was Wacha's third career start.[16] Three days after earning his first major league win, the Cardinals optioned Wacha back to Memphis to clear roster room for pitcher Jake Westbrook as he returned from the disabled list. During his first stint with the Cardinals, Wacha posted a 1-0 record with an ERA of 4.58 in three starts.[17]

Wacha pitching in Game 4 of the 2013 NLDS, October 7, 2013

The Cardinals recalled Wacha in mid-August and he was on the roster to stay for the remainder of the season. He started one game against the Chicago Cubs before being moved to the bullpen. Manager Mike Matheny placed him back in the rotation in September. He pitched six shutout innings with just three hits against the Cincinnati Reds.[8] Encompassing his last regular-season game and first three playoff appearances in 2013, Wacha authored a series of masterful performances. On September 24, he pitched a no-hitter through 8 2⁄3 innings against the Washington Nationals that ended when Ryan Zimmerman stroked an infield single that glanced off Wacha's glove. It was Washington's only hit as the Cardinals prevailed 2–0.[18] It was also the third potential no-hitter lost with the final out to go on the 2013 season, after Yu Darvish and Yusmeiro Petit.[19] Wacha finished his regular season in the Major Leagues appearing in 15 games, making nine starts and pitching 64 2⁄3 innings. He surrendered 52 hits, twenty runs, five home runs and struck out 65 hitters for a 2.78 ERA.[20]

On October 7, Wacha started his first Major League playoff game. In 7 1⁄3 innings of Game 4 of the 2013 National League Division Series (NLDS) – an elimination game against the Pittsburgh Pirates – he again surrendered one hit (a home run) and two walks.[21] Due to Wacha's back-to-back one-hit performances, Matheny announced that he would start Game 2 of the National League Championship Series (NLCS).[22] In that game on October 12, he outdueled Clayton Kershaw in 6 2⁄3 innings for a 1–0 victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers.[23] In just the 11th start of his MLB career, Wacha joined Bob Gibson as the only pitchers in franchise history to strike out at least eight batters while yielding one or no runs in consecutive postseason starts.[24] Wacha again faced Kershaw in Game 6, this time yielding just two hits in seven innings as his opponent unravelled in a 9–0 victory over the Dodgers that sent the Cardinals to the World Series. Wacha won both his NLCS starts, holding the Dodgers to a .149 batting average against (BAA), two walks and 13 SO in 13 2⁄3 scoreless IP as he earned the NLCS MVP. He became the fourth rookie to win a postseason MVP, following Larry Sherry (1959 World Series), Mike Boddicker (1983 NLCS), and Liván Hernández (1997 NLCS and 1997 World Series). Through the NLCS, Wacha allowed just one run on eight hits in 21 IP for a 0.43 ERA while striking out 22.[25][26]

Starting Game Two of the World Series against the Boston Red Sox, Wacha pitched six innings in a 4–2 Cardinals' victory,[27] although he said after the game he "didn't have [his] best stuff."[28] Before surrendering a home run to David Ortiz, Wacha tied Gibson with the longest scoreless streak (19 innings) in Cardinals' postseason history.[29] Wacha became the 17th-youngest pitcher overall to win a World Series game and the second-youngest in Cardinals history behind only Paul Dean.[30][31] In Game 6, with the Cardinals facing elimination once more, Wacha was again called upon to save their season after winning four consecutive playoff starts with a 1.00 ERA and just 11 hits allowed in 27 innings for a .122 opponents' batting average. However, the Red Sox finally solved him, tagging him for six runs in 3 2⁄3 innings on the way to defeating the Cardinals for their eighth World Series title.[32][33]

Pitching profile

Wacha signing autographs in January 2014

Standing 6' 6" (78 inches (200 cm)) tall and weighing 210 pounds (95 kg), Wacha repeats the same delivery with all his pitches.[34] Featuring a plus-plus sinking fastball that usually travels between 92 miles per hour (148 km/h) and 95 miles per hour (153 km/h), Wacha frequently shows velocity up to 97 miles per hour (156 km/h).[35] His high arm angle and release point create substantial downward action on his fastball.[36] Wacha's fastball complement, a plus-plus changeup, features deep fading movement to right-handed hitters with a 10 miles per hour (16 km/h) to 12 miles per hour (19 km/h) decrease in velocity from his fastball. Not only is his arm angle on the two pitches the same, the arm speed appears virtually identical to the hitter, thus disguising the difference in velocity.

Wacha's third pitch is an average curveball that travels about 77 miles per hour (124 km/h) and has improved in break and consistency; in college, scouts considered his curveball a below average pitch.[34][35][36] He has a fourth pitch, a slider, that lacks consistent break and darts horizontally similar to the cutter.[37] Wacha attributed the increase in pitch velocity to gaining weight from physical exercise and increased food consumption, asserting that he "felt like the velocity just kept on increasing every single year. I changed my mechanics a little bit when I was in college, and that might have added a few ticks."[6]

Depending on the source, Wacha shows a wide range of potential. Scouting reports initially projected him for a potential of two plus-plus pitches (fastball and changeup) with command of both. Baseball Prospectus noted that his polish due to pitch command helped fast-track him to the Major Leagues. However, a dearth of vigorous fastball life escalates the importance of command. Wacha offsets the shortage of sizable vertical movement with the pronounced descent through which his fastball, changeup and curve travel to create an additional obstacle as hitters to attempt square the bat on the pitch.[38] In addition, the drop in elevation changes the hitter's eye level.[34] Wacha was previously criticized for a heavy reliance on the fastball from lacking a solid breaking pitch. Before refining his curveball, Baseball Prospect Nation commented that development of a slider "to even only an occasional 'show-me' pitch would add another element to his game and allow him to become more refined in his pitch sequencing ability to work through a lineup."[37]

During each at-bat, Wacha does not easily give in to the batter. He maintains his composure on the mound.[37] With both fastball and changeup being plus-plus pitches and improved command, Baseball Prospectus and Baseball Prospect Nation conclude his likely future is as a solid number-three starter.[38][37] However, as command of his curve has markedly improved, so have his projections.[38][39] The same initial reports stated that if he could enhance his slider's reliability, he may be able to become a low-end number two starter.[37] Still others, such as scout Ralph Garr, Jr., and Kantrovitz, project him as a "future top-of-the-rotation guy."[40]

Awards

Award/honor # of times Dates (Ranking or event) Refs
Major leagues
NLCS MVP 1 2013 [25]
Minor leagues
Minor leagues All-Star 1 2013 (Pacific Coast League) [41]
Triple-A All-Star Game Top Star award 1 2013 (Pacific Coast League player) [41]
The Cardinal Nation/Scout.com Cardinals Top Prospects 1 2013 (#4) [42]
The Cardinal Nation/Scout.com Relief Pitcher of the Year 1 2012 [42]
College
Baseball America Third Team All-American 1 2011 [43]
Louisville Slugger Freshman All-American 1 2010 [44]

Personal life

As a play on his last name, "Wacha Wacha" became a phenomenon following the favorite catch phrase of Fozzie Bear of the The Muppets, and for its similarity to the sound effects from the Pac-Man arcade game.[45] A restaurant in St. Louis named a milkshake the "Wacha Wacha" following his 2013 NLCS MVP honors.[46] The milkshake's ingredients included vanilla with chocolate chips and Cracker Jacks. Although he could not remember the name of the restaurant, he stated the Cracker Jacks "added a little baseball flair to it."[47]

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 "Michael Wacha bio". Texas A&M official athletics site (AggieAthletics.com). Retrieved October 13, 2013. 
  2. ↑ Rosenthal, Ken (October 25, 2013). "Michael Wacha's family huge part of his success". Fox Sports Networks. Retrieved October 25, 2013. 
  3. ↑ "Dusty Rogers minor league statistics & history". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved October 13, 2013. 
  4. ↑ Associated Press (June 5, 2008). "Snyder takes down Pleasant Grove in 3A baseball final". Houston Chronicle (Chron.com). Retrieved May 28, 2013. 
  5. ↑ Rich, Allen (March 6, 2009). "Pleasant Grove 67, Paris 61". North Texas e-News (Ntxe-news.com). Retrieved May 28, 2013. 
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 Ortiz, Jorge (October 24, 2013). "Fastball keeps Cards rookie Wacha on fast track". USA Today. Retrieved October 31, 2013. 
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 Astleford, Andrew (June 5, 2012). "Cardinals select Wacha at No. 19". Fox Sports Midwest website. Retrieved December 1, 2012. 
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 Schoch, J.J. (September 25, 2013). "Meet Michael Wacha, baseball's next great young arm". Bleacher Report. Retrieved October 13, 2013. 
  9. ↑ Langosch, Jenifer (June 5, 2013). "Cardinals take polished right Michael Wacha with their top draft pick". www.stlouis.cardinals.mlb.com. Retrieved October 12, 2013. 
  10. ↑ Goold, Derrick (August 18, 2012). "First-rounder Wacha promoted to Springfield". Stltoday. Retrieved December 7, 2012. 
  11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 "Michael Wacha minor league statistics & history". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved October 13, 2013. 
  12. ↑ 12.0 12.1 Langosch, Jenifer (March 14, 2013). "Wacha among Cards reassigned to Minors camp". MLB.com via St. Louis Cardinals official website. Retrieved March 15, 2013. 
  13. ↑ Timmerman, Tom (May 30, 2013). "Bullpen collapse costs Wacha win". St. Louis Post-Dispatch. 
  14. ↑ Associated Press (May 28, 2013). "St. Louis Cardinals' top rookie Michael Wacha to debut Thursday". ESPN. Retrieved May 28, 2013. 
  15. ↑ Strauss, Joe (May 31, 2013). "Wacha delivers on time and on promise". St. Louis Post-Dispatch. 
  16. ↑ 16.0 16.1 "Recap: Wacha gets first win as Cards topple Mets". Fox Sports Midwest. June 11, 2013. Retrieved June 14, 2013. 
  17. ↑ Associated Press (June 14, 2013). "Cardinals' Wacha optioned to Triple-A Memphis". USA Today. Retrieved June 15, 2013. 
  18. ↑ Langosch, Jenifer (September 25, 2013). "Wacha's 8 2/3 no-hit innings cut Cards' number to 3". www.stlouis.cardinals.mlb.com. Retrieved October 12, 2013. 
  19. ↑ Mastrodonato, Jason (September 24, 2013). "Cardinals pitcher Michael Wacha third in 2013 to lose no-hitter with one out to go". www.stlous.cardinals.mlb.com. Retrieved October 12, 2013. 
  20. ↑ "Michael Wacha statistics and history". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved October 13, 2013. 
  21. ↑ Perrotto, John (October 8, 2013). "Wacha misses no-hitter; Cardinals get must-win". USA Today. Retrieved October 8, 2013. 
  22. ↑ The Sports Network (October 10, 2013). "Kelly gets NLCS Game 1 start for Cards". The Miami Herald. Retrieved October 12, 2013. 
  23. ↑ Langosch, Jenifer (October 12, 2013). "Cardinals, Wacha flock to LA with 2-0 NLCS lead". www.stlouis.cardinals.mlb.com. Retrieved October 12, 2013. 
  24. ↑ Nightengale, Bob (October 13, 2013). "Wacha seized the moment for Cardinals". USA Today. Retrieved October 13, 2013. 
  25. ↑ 25.0 25.1 Kruth, Cash (October 18, 2013). "St. Louis Cardinals rookie Michael Wacha named NLCS MVP". www.stlouis.cardinals.mlb.com. Retrieved October 18, 2013. 
  26. ↑ Hummel, Rick (October 18, 2013). "Cardinals reach Series for 4th time in 10 season". St. Louis Post-Dispatch. Retrieved October 18, 2013. 
  27. ↑ Svrluga, Barry (October 24, 2013). "World Series: Michael Wacha, St. Louis Cardinals top Boston Red Sox, 4-2". The Washington Post. Retrieved October 25, 2013. 
  28. ↑ Kurkjian, Adam (October 25, 2013). "Michael Wacha simply has right stuff". Boston Herald. Retrieved October 25, 2013. 
  29. ↑ Thornburg, Chad (October 24, 2013). "Facts and figures from Cardinals win over Red Sox in World Series Game 2". MLB.com. Retrieved October 25, 2013. 
  30. ↑ "In the World Series, from 1903 to 2013, pitcher won, as starter, sorted by youngest". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved October 25, 2013. 
  31. ↑ ESPN Stats & Information (October 24, 2013). "Cardinals pitchers overwhelm". ESPN.com. Retrieved October 25, 2013. 
  32. ↑ Svrluga, Barry (October 30, 2013). "Red Sox solve Cardinals' Michael Wacha". Washington Post. Retrieved October 30, 2013. 
  33. ↑ "Michael Wacha postseason pitching game logs". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved October 30, 2013. 
  34. ↑ 34.0 34.1 34.2 Pleskoff, Bernie (October 30, 2013). "Contrasting Game 6 starters Michael Wacha and John Lackey". MLB.com. Retrieved October 31, 2013. 
  35. ↑ 35.0 35.1 Sickels, John (February 13, 2013). "Michael Wacha, RHP, St. Louis Cardinals". www.minorleagueball.com. Retrieved October 14, 2013. 
  36. ↑ 36.0 36.1 Kilgore, Adam (October 24, 2013). "What if the Nationals had drafted Michael Wacha?". Washington Post. Retrieved October 25, 2013. 
  37. ↑ 37.0 37.1 37.2 37.3 37.4 "Scouting report: Michael Wacha (RHP)". Baseball Prospect Nation. March 30, 2012. Retrieved October 14, 2013. 
  38. ↑ 38.0 38.1 38.2 Cole, Jason; Sayre, Bret (May 30, 2013). "The call-up: Michael Wacha". Baseball Prospectus. Retrieved October 31, 2013. 
  39. ↑ Mayo, Jonathan (October 25, 2013). "Cardinals' Michael Wacha exemplifies draft's uncertainty". MLB.com via cardinals.com. Retrieved October 31, 2013. 
  40. ↑ Goold, Derrick (October 18, 2013). "Rematch at Busch: Wacha vs. Kershaw". St. Louis Post-Dispatch. Retrieved October 18, 2013. 
  41. ↑ 41.0 41.1 Goold, Derrick (July 18, 2013). "Wacha wins 'Top Star' award at Triple-A All-Star Game". St. Louis Post-Dispatch. 
  42. ↑ 42.0 42.1 "Michael Wacha profile". Scout.com. Retrieved October 13, 2013. 
  43. ↑ Texas A&M Athletics (June 15, 2011). "Baseball America names Wacha Third Team All-American". Aggie Athletics. Retrieved October 13, 2013. 
  44. ↑ Texas A&M Athletics (June 9, 2010). "Wacha named Freshman All-American". Aggie Athletics. Retrieved October 13, 2013. 
  45. ↑ Walker, Ben (October 23, 2013). "Five things to know about the 2013 World Series". The Dalles Chronicle. Retrieved January 28, 2014. 
  46. ↑ Feinsand, Mark (October 24, 2013). "Michael Wacha gets a milkshake named after him after postseason success with Cardinals". New York Daily News. Retrieved January 28, 2014. 
  47. ↑ Hummel, Rick (October 23, 2013). "Flavor of the month: 'Wacha Wacha'". St. Louis Post-Dispatch. Retrieved January 28, 2014. 

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