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Mike Maroth
Mike Maroth
from Wikipedia

Michael Warren Maroth (born August 17, 1977) is an American former Major League Baseball (MLB) starting pitcher and former professional and college pitching coach .[1][2] Born in Orlando, Florida, the left-handed Maroth attended the University of Central Florida and made his Major League debut in 2002 for the Detroit Tigers. He lost 21 games in 2003, the only MLB pitcher to lose 20 games since 1980.[3]

Key Information

Playing career

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Boston Red Sox

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A third-round pick in the 1998 draft, Maroth spent his first two years of professional baseball playing for the Single-A Sarasota Red Sox in the Boston Red Sox organization. He led Sarasota's starting pitchers with 11 wins in 1999.[4]

Detroit Tigers

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Before the 2000 season, Maroth was traded to the Tigers organization for relief pitcher Bryce Florie and worked his way up from the Single-A Lakeland Tigers to the Triple-A Toledo Mud Hens by 2001. Maroth had a 4.65 earned run average (ERA) with Toledo. At the time of his promotion to the Tigers, he was also tied for second place in wins for the entire International League. Maroth was made a starter for the Tigers on June 8, 2002.[5]

In 2003, Maroth lost 21 games for the Tigers—the first pitcher to lose 20 or more games in a season since Brian Kingman lost 20 for the Oakland Athletics in 1980. He remains the most recent pitcher to lose 20 or more games in a season as of 2025.[3] However, he led the Tigers in wins (9) and win–loss percentage (.300) while the team set the American League record of 119 games lost (43–119).[6]

Maroth rebounded to a decent 2004 campaign, going 11–13 with a 4.31 ERA and 108 strikeouts. 2004 also saw Maroth pitch a one-hit complete game shutout against a surging New York Yankees team that July – he lost his no-hit bid in the fourth-inning[7] due to future teammate Gary Sheffield. In light of the Tigers' continually struggling offense, Maroth's 2005 performance was similarly solid; he managed to rack up 14 wins in 28 starts, the second best record on the team and just one loss behind their young ace, Jeremy Bonderman.

In 2006, Maroth assumed the No. 3 role in the starter rotation, behind the veteran Kenny Rogers and Bonderman, and ahead of rookie Justin Verlander and Nate Robertson. After a start against the Kansas City Royals on May 25,[8] Maroth was placed on the disabled list in early June with bone chips in his left elbow. Late in the 2006 season, Maroth made four relief appearances, posting a 9.53 ERA over 523 innings of work, giving up three home runs. Maroth was left off the postseason roster.

He returned to the starting rotation in the 2007 season. He missed only one start due to illness. With Kenny Rogers on the DL, the rotation consisted of Maroth, Jeremy Bonderman, Justin Verlander, Chad Durbin, and Nate Robertson.[9]

St. Louis Cardinals

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Maroth was traded to the St. Louis Cardinals for a player to be named later. Minor league pitcher Chris Lambert, a former first-round pick for the Cardinals in 2004, was sent to the Tigers on August 31, 2007, to complete the deal.[10] In his first career National League start on June 25 against the New York Mets, Maroth surrendered just one run and two hits in 713 innings, but did not figure in the decision. However, Maroth was unable to succeed in any role with St. Louis during the rest of the year, going 0–4 with an ERA above 10. He was given his release from the team on October 25, 2007.[11]

Later career

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On February 8, 2008, the Kansas City Royals signed Maroth to a minor league contract and invited him to spring training.[12] Maroth was released on May 2, 2008.[13]

Maroth underwent shoulder surgery in May 2008, expecting to be able to pitch by spring training 2009.[14]

On December 30, 2008, Maroth signed a minor league deal with the Toronto Blue Jays.[15] Maroth pitched two innings of spring training game on March 3, 2009, the first time he had thrown in a Major League game since 2007. Maroth commented "My arm felt great... Probably felt too great. It’s been a while since I've been able to get out there. Got that adrenaline."[16] After not making the team out of camp, Maroth was released.

On January 8, 2010, Maroth signed a minor league contract with the Minnesota Twins with an invite to spring training. Maroth did not make the team out of spring training and was sent down to the Triple-A Rochester Red Wings. In late May, Maroth had surgery to remove a bone spur from his elbow causing him to be out four to five weeks.

Maroth retired on January 25, 2011.[17]

Coaching career

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In September 2011, Maroth was named the pitching coach for the Class A-Advanced Lakeland Flying Tigers.[18] In October 2014, after three seasons with Lakeland, it was announced Maroth was named the pitching coach for the Triple-A Toledo Mud Hens.[19]

In September 2015, the Atlanta Braves hired Maroth as their minor league rehab pitching coordinator.[20]

Maroth was named as the pitching coach for the Class A-Advanced Florida Fire Frogs in the Atlanta Braves organization for the 2018 season. He was named as the pitching coach for the Braves' Triple-A Gwinnett Stripers for the 2019 season.[21]

Maroth was named as the pitching coach for his alma mater, the UCF Knights, for the 2023 season.[2] He did not return to UCF in 2024, following the firing of head coach Greg Lovelady.[22][23]

Scouting report

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Maroth was not an overpowering pitcher, averaging under 85 miles per hour (MPH) on his fastball. He also threw an 82 MPH cutter. His offspeed pitches were a slider, curveball, and changeup.[24]

References

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Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia
from Grokipedia
Michael Warren Maroth (born August 17, 1977) is an American former professional baseball pitcher and college baseball coach. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) from 2002 to 2007, primarily as a starting pitcher for the Detroit Tigers, where he compiled a career record of 50 wins and 67 losses with a 5.05 earned run average (ERA) over 918 innings pitched. Maroth is notably remembered for leading the American League in losses during the 2003 season with 21 defeats, the last MLB pitcher to reach 20 losses in a single year. After retiring due to injuries, he transitioned into coaching, including roles in minor league systems and as an assistant pitching coach at the University of Central Florida, his alma mater, in 2023. Following his UCF tenure, Maroth has focused on private pitching instruction as of 2025. Maroth was born in , and attended , where he played before enrolling at the (UCF). At UCF, he honed his skills as a left-handed pitcher, contributing to the Knights' program and building connections that would influence his later career. Drafted by the Boston Red Sox in the third round (85th overall) of the 1998 MLB Draft out of UCF, Maroth signed a $225,000 bonus and began his professional journey in the minors. He was traded to the Detroit Tigers organization in 1999, setting the stage for his MLB debut on June 8, 2002, against the Phillies. During his MLB tenure, Maroth established himself as a workhorse starter for the Tigers, making at least 30 starts in each of his first three full seasons from 2003 to 2005. His 2003 campaign, while marked by the league-high 21 losses and a 5.73 , showcased his resilience amid a struggling Tigers team that finished with a 43-119 record. Maroth rebounded in 2004 with an 11-13 record and a 4.31 , followed by a 14-14 mark in 2005. In 2006, he posted a 5-2 record with a 4.19 in 9 starts before an elbow injury sidelined him, though he contributed to the Tigers' pennant win that year. Traded to the St. Louis Cardinals in June 2007, Maroth appeared in 10 games that season before his MLB career ended on September 24, 2007, due to ongoing arm issues; he pitched in the minors until retiring in January 2011. Post-retirement, Maroth leveraged his experience in coaching roles within . He served as pitching coach for the Detroit Tigers' affiliates, including the (2012-2014) and (2015). Later, he joined the organization in September 2015 as rehabilitation pitching coordinator and as pitching coach for the Gwinnett Braves (2021-2022). In January 2023, Maroth returned to UCF as an assistant coach and pitching coach under Greg Lovelady, focusing on developing young pitchers and drawing from his own journey from prospect to MLB veteran. Beyond coaching, Maroth co-founded Sports Wrap, a program that facilitates food donations from sports teams to combat hunger, earning him nominations for the in 2005 and 2006 for his community efforts.

Early life and amateur career

High school career

Michael Warren Maroth was born on August 17, 1977, in Orlando, Florida, to parents Bill and Charlotte Maroth. Bill worked building conference exhibits, while Charlotte served in Orange County public school administration. Maroth attended William R. Boone High School in Orlando, graduating in 1995. There, he developed as a left-handed pitcher on the school's baseball team, though he lacked a strong fastball and was described as a slight 145-pound senior. During his senior year, Maroth led the team in wins and strikeouts, contributing to early-season success with a 5-0 record and 2.86 ERA by February 1995. His standout performance earned him recognition as one of the top pitchers in Orange County that year, along with district MVP and Player of the Year honors, and a spot in the . These achievements drew early interest from scouts and paved the way for his recruitment to the .

College career

Mike Maroth enrolled at the (UCF) in 1996, joining the team as a left-handed pitcher and lettering in each of his three seasons through 1998. As a freshman in 1996, Maroth primarily worked out of the , appearing in 13 games with one start and posting a 2-0 record, 1.89 ERA, and 35 strikeouts over 33.1 innings pitched. His contributions helped the Knights win the Trans America Athletic Conference (TAAC) tournament championship, securing an NCAA Regional berth in the East Regional, where the Knights went 1–2 before being eliminated by UMass. In his sophomore year of 1997, Maroth took on a larger role with 24 appearances, including seven starts, where he recorded a 4-4 mark, 4.73 ERA, three saves (a team high), and 65 strikeouts in 72.1 innings. These efforts helped propel UCF to the TAAC tournament title and a second consecutive NCAA Regional appearance in the Tallahassee Regional, where finished 0–2. Maroth transitioned to a full-time starter as a junior in , going 3-3 with a 4.09 ERA across 13 games despite missing about a month due to mononucleosis, in the program's inaugural season in the Atlantic Sun Conference. He closed out his college career with a standout outing in the conference tournament against Jacksonville State, allowing just two hits and one run over 7⅔ innings to help secure a 5-1 victory and demonstrate his durability to professional scouts. Following the season, Maroth declared for the MLB Draft, forgoing his senior year after earning recognition as one of UCF's top arms.

Professional playing career

Minor leagues

Maroth was selected by the Boston Red Sox in the third round, 85th overall, of the 1998 June Amateur Draft out of the . He signed with the organization on July 5, 1998, receiving a of $225,000 as part of his initial professional contract. Maroth began his professional career in 1998 with the rookie-level Gulf Coast League Red Sox, where he made four appearances with a 0.00 over 12.2 innings, before advancing to short-season Class A in the New York-Penn League, posting a 2-3 record and 2.90 in six starts across 31 innings. His strong debut season positioned him for a promotion to full-season Class A Advanced Sarasota Red Sox of the in 1999, where he excelled with an 11-6 record and 4.04 in 20 appearances (19 starts), logging 111.1 innings and 64 strikeouts. On July 31, 1999, the Red Sox traded Maroth to the Detroit Tigers in exchange for relief pitcher Bryce Florie; he finished the year in the Tigers' system, making three starts for Class A Advanced Lakeland Tigers (2-1, 3.24 in 16.2 innings) and five starts for Double-A Jacksonville Suns (1-2, 4.79 in 20.2 innings). In 2000, Maroth remained with the Tigers' Double-A affiliate, the Jacksonville Suns of the Southern League, where he recorded a 9-14 mark with a 3.94 over 27 starts and 164.1 , striking out 85 batters while issuing 58 walks; after a slow start with nine losses in his first 12 outings, he rebounded strongly, going 9-5 with a 2.62 in his final 15 starts. Promoted to Triple-A of the in 2001, Maroth went 7-10 with a 4.65 in 24 appearances (23 starts), covering 131.2 with 63 strikeouts and 50 walks. His performance that August was interrupted by a left shoulder strain, which landed him on the disabled list and limited his late-season activity. Across his affiliates from 1998 to 2001, Maroth compiled a 33-37 record with a 3.96 in 106 appearances (95 starts), totaling 488.2 .

Detroit Tigers

Maroth made his major league debut with the Detroit Tigers on June 8, 2002, against the Philadelphia Phillies at , where he pitched seven scoreless but received no decision in a 1-2 loss after the bullpen allowed two runs in the eighth. In his rookie season, he appeared in 21 games (20 starts), posting a 6-10 record with a 4.48 over 128.2 , establishing himself as a reliable starter despite the Tigers' ongoing struggles following their 66-96 finish the previous year. In 2003, Maroth's first full season, he became the opening day starter and led the Tigers staff with nine wins despite a 9-21 record—the most losses by any major league pitcher since 1980—and a 5.73 ERA across 33 starts and 193.1 innings pitched. This performance, while highlighting his durability amid poor run support (the Tigers scored just 2.9 runs per game in his starts), came during the franchise's worst season, a 43-119 mark that tied for the second-most losses in modern MLB history. Maroth's 21 losses underscored the team's dysfunction, yet his 87 strikeouts and league-leading 123 earned runs allowed reflected the challenges of pitching for a rebuilding squad under manager . Maroth showed improvement in 2004, going 11-13 with a 4.31 ERA in 33 starts and 217 innings, tying for sixth in the American League in innings pitched while benefiting from slightly better team support as the Tigers finished 72-90. A career highlight came on July 16, when he threw a one-hit complete-game shutout against the New York Yankees at Comerica Park, allowing only a double by Gary Sheffield in the fourth inning en route to an 8-0 victory that snapped his personal six-game losing skid. The following year, 2005, saw further progress with a 14-14 record and 4.74 ERA in 34 starts and 209 innings, aligning with the Tigers' turnaround to 71-91 under manager Alan Trammell, where Maroth ranked second on the team in wins and innings. The 2006 season proved challenging due to an elbow injury that sidelined Maroth after nine starts, where he went 5-2 with a 4.19 before undergoing surgery in June to remove bone chips; he returned in late August for four relief outings but posted a 9.53 over 5.2 . Despite the Tigers' remarkable resurgence to an pennant (95-67 record) and appearance, Maroth was excluded from the postseason roster, limited to watching from the sidelines as the team advanced without him. In 2007, he posted a 5-3 record with a 4.37 in 18 games (14 starts) before the Tigers traded him to the Cardinals on June 22 for a (later identified as Chris Lambert). Over his Tigers tenure from 2002 to mid-2007, Maroth compiled a 50-62 record with a 4.72 in 147 appearances (143 starts), logging 880 and providing consistent volume for a franchise in transition.

St. Louis Cardinals

On June 22, 2007, the St. Louis Cardinals acquired left-handed pitcher Mike Maroth from the Tigers in exchange for a , later identified as pitcher Chris Lambert on August 30. The trade aimed to strengthen the Cardinals' struggling rotation amid an early-season slump, as the defending champions sat at 32-37 and sought reinforcements for a potential playoff run. Maroth, entering the final year of a two-year contract, had posted a 5-3 record with a 4.37 in 18 appearances (14 starts) for Detroit prior to the deal, offering veteran stability to a staff plagued by injuries. Maroth's tenure with St. Louis proved short and ineffective, as lingering elbow issues hampered his effectiveness from the outset. He spent time on the disabled list with elbow inflammation during the season and struggled with diminished velocity and command upon return. In 14 appearances, including 7 starts, Maroth went 0-5 with a 10.66 ERA over 38 innings, allowing 71 hits and 56 runs while striking out just 23 batters. His outings provided little support to the rotation, contributing to the Cardinals' inability to mount a serious contention effort. The Cardinals released Maroth on October 26, 2007, shortly after the season concluded, marking the end of his career. Despite the acquisition's intent to bolster the pitching staff, Maroth's performance underscored the risks of relying on an injury-prone veteran in a desperate bid for rotation depth.

Later career

Following his release from the Cardinals organization in 2007, Maroth signed a minor league contract with the on February 8, 2008, with an invitation to . He made three starts for the Royals' Triple-A affiliate, the Omaha Royals of the , posting a 0-2 record with a 12.91 over 7.2 before being released on May 2, 2008. Shortly thereafter, Maroth underwent shoulder surgery, sidelining him for the remainder of the 2008 season. On December 30, 2008, Maroth signed another contract with the Toronto Blue Jays. During in 2009, he pitched just two innings before tearing the meniscus in his left , leading to his release by the Blue Jays on March 27, 2009, and subsequent knee surgery that caused him to miss the entire season. To regain form, Maroth appeared in the 2009-2010 Puerto Rican Winter League with , where he went 3-0 with a 2.60 ERA in six starts and 34.2 . Maroth received another opportunity on January 8, 2010, when he signed a minor league contract with the , including a invitation. After a brief rehab appearance for the rookie-level Gulf Coast League Twins (1.2 scoreless innings), he joined the Twins' Triple-A affiliate, the of the , making three starts with a 0-2 record and 1.64 ERA over 11 innings. He was granted free agency on November 6, 2010. Maroth returned to the Puerto Rican Winter League with Mayagüez for the 2010-2011 , recording a 0-2 mark with an 11.20 ERA in four starts and 13.2 innings before the campaign was interrupted. On , 2011, at age 33, Maroth announced his retirement from professional baseball after failing to secure another contract amid ongoing injury challenges. Over his six MLB seasons with the Detroit Tigers and St. Louis Cardinals, he compiled a 50-67 record with a 5.05 in 918 ; his post-2007 minor and winter league efforts totaled 12 appearances (10 starts), a 3-4 record, and a 5.22 across 69 .

Coaching career

Minor league coaching

After retiring from his playing career with the Detroit Tigers organization, Mike Maroth transitioned into coaching, leveraging his eight seasons of professional experience as a left-handed to mentor emerging talent. In late 2011, he was hired as the pitching coach for the , the Tigers' Class A Advanced affiliate in the , a position he held from 2012 through 2014. During his tenure in Lakeland, Maroth focused on refining the mechanics and mental approach of young pitchers, contributing to the development of prospects advancing through the system. In October 2014, Maroth received a promotion to pitching coach for the , the Tigers' Triple-A affiliate in the , where he served in 2015. In this higher-level role, he worked closely with more advanced pitchers, including left-hander Matt Boyd, helping to prepare him for a successful Major League debut later that year after Boyd's promotion to . Maroth's guidance emphasized consistency and resilience, drawing from his own career challenges, such as leading the in losses during the 2003 season. Maroth's coaching career took him to the Atlanta Braves organization in September 2015, when he was appointed as the team's Rehabilitation Pitching Coordinator, a role he held through 2022 while also taking on field duties. In this capacity, he oversaw the recovery and reintegration of injured s across the Braves' minor league affiliates, focusing on customized rehabilitation programs to accelerate returns to form. Complementing this, Maroth served as pitching coach for the Class A Advanced in 2018, where he instructed a roster of promising arms in the . The following year, he advanced to the Triple-A in 2019, and returned to the role of pitching coach there in 2021 and 2022, continuing to build on his expertise in player development by providing personalized instruction to s nearing Major League readiness. Throughout these roles, Maroth's emphasis on individualized techniques helped foster improvements in command and , supporting the progression of several talents to higher levels within the Braves system.

College coaching

On January 5, 2023, Mike Maroth was hired as the pitching coach for the baseball team, his alma mater, under head coach Greg Lovelady. This appointment marked his return to Orlando, where he had grown up and played , allowing him to prioritize family time after opting out of professional coaching opportunities. During the 2023 season, Maroth's responsibilities centered on pitcher development and staff management, drawing from his prior minor league coaching background. The Knights compiled a 33-26 overall record and went 12-12 in American Athletic Conference play, with the pitching staff contributing to a balanced performance that kept the team competitive despite missing the NCAA Tournament. Notable improvements included enhanced strikeout efficiency among key arms. Following the season, head coach Greg Lovelady was dismissed on May 27, 2023, amid the program's transition to the . Maroth did not return for the 2024 campaign under new leadership and has held no further college coaching positions as of 2025.

Scouting report and legacy

Scouting report

Mike Maroth, a left-handed , featured a modest arsenal centered on a typically ranging from 82-85 mph, complemented by a sinker around 83 mph that generated significant groundball action through natural movement and good extension in his delivery. His secondary pitches included a cutter at approximately 81-82 mph, a in the low 80s, a around 73 mph, and a at 75 mph, with the latter providing some cut and dive for deception against right-handed batters. Maroth's mechanics emphasized a repeatable left-handed motion that allowed for precise location, though he occasionally battled control issues, particularly with walks when his extension faltered. Maroth's primary strengths lay in his command and , as he prioritized pitching to spots over overpowering hitters, enabling him to induce weak contact and groundballs effectively even on subpar teams. His competitiveness shone through in challenging environments, where he maintained focus and effectiveness despite defensive support limitations, exemplified by leading the in during the 2003 season with the Tigers. Among his weaknesses, Maroth's below-average velocity became more pronounced after injuries, including issues that required in 2006, limiting his ability to miss bats and increasing susceptibility to hard contact like home runs. Scouting evaluations, such as those from his draft by the Boston Red Sox, projected him as a potential mid-rotation starter reliant on control rather than stuff, a assessment that aligned with his career trajectory before injuries curtailed his potential.

Legacy

Mike Maroth is best remembered as the last pitcher to suffer 20 or more losses in a single season, posting a 9-21 record in 2003 while starting all 33 games for the Tigers, who finished with a 43-119 mark and set an record for futility. His 21 defeats that year symbolized the Tigers' struggles, as he became the first pitcher to reach such a since Brian Kingman's 20 losses in 1980, and no one has matched or exceeded it in the two decades since. This record endures as of 2025, highlighting the evolution of pitching workloads and team strategies that have made 20-loss seasons increasingly rare. Over his six-year MLB career from 2002 to 2007, primarily with the Tigers, Maroth compiled a 50-67 record with a 5.05 , 443 strikeouts, and 862.1 , often enduring subpar team support that inflated his loss total. Despite the challenges, his durability shone through, as he led the in in both 2004 (217) and 2005 (209), contributing to the Tigers' turnaround to the 2006 pennant before an elbow injury sidelined him. Maroth's broader legacy emphasizes resilience amid adversity, as he handled the season's mounting losses with grace, crediting his Christian for sustaining him: "I don’t know how I would have handled it without Christ in my life." After retiring in 2011, he transitioned successfully to coaching, serving as a minor league pitching instructor for the Tigers and later as the ' Minor League Rehabilitation Pitching Coordinator from 2015 to 2022, where he mentored young pitchers on recovery and development before returning to his alma mater, the , as an assistant pitching coach in 2023. While he has not received Hall of Fame consideration, Maroth is frequently noted in discussions of MLB's worst individual and team seasons, including the Tigers' campaign, which nearly broke the modern record for most losses. His story, detailed in the biography, underscores perseverance in a high-pressure sport.

References

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