Hubbry Logo
Zack GreinkeZack GreinkeMain
Open search
Zack Greinke
Community hub
Zack Greinke
logo
8 pages, 0 posts
0 subscribers
Be the first to start a discussion here.
Be the first to start a discussion here.
Zack Greinke
Zack Greinke
Zack Greinke
View on Wikipedia
from Wikipedia

Donald Zackary Greinke (/ˈɡreɪnki/ GRAYN-kee;[1] born October 21, 1983) is an American former professional baseball pitcher. Greinke played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for 20 seasons for the Kansas City Royals, Milwaukee Brewers, Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, Los Angeles Dodgers, Arizona Diamondbacks, and Houston Astros. He is considered to be one of the greatest pitchers of his generation.[2]

Key Information

The Royals selected Greinke in the first round with the sixth pick of the 2002 MLB draft, after he won the Gatorade National Player of the Year Award as a high school senior. After playing in the minor leagues, he made his MLB debut in 2004. His career was nearly derailed by his battles with depression and anxiety in 2005 and 2006, and he missed most of the 2006 season. He returned in 2007 as a relief pitcher, before rejoining the starting rotation in 2008 and developing into one of the top pitchers in the game. In 2009, he appeared in the MLB All-Star Game, led the major leagues in earned run average (ERA), and won the American League Cy Young Award.

Following his first stint with the Royals, Greinke played for the Brewers, Angels, Dodgers, Diamondbacks, and Astros across 2011 to 2021. During this time, he won six consecutive Gold Glove Awards from 2014 to 2019, and led MLB in ERA for a second time in 2015 with the Dodgers. In 2022 he returned to the Royals.

A dedicated competitor often described as unique in his talent and demeanor by teammates, Greinke was a six-time All-Star, six-time Gold Glove Award winner, two-time Silver Slugger Award winner, two-time earned run average leader, and an American League Cy Young Award recipient.[3]

Greinke is one of only five pitchers (Nolan Ryan, Randy Johnson, Greg Maddux, and Roger Clemens) to strike out 1,000 different batters, with his 1,000th strikeout coming against Joey Wiemer on May 14, 2023.[4]

Early life

[edit]

Greinke was born in Orlando, Florida, the son of teachers Donald and Marsha Greinke. He is of German descent, and was active in Little League and also excelled in tennis and golf tournaments as a youth.[5][6] As a teenager, Greinke helped lead his team to the Senior League World Series title in 1999. He played shortstop for the team, and his coach estimated that he hit close to .700 in the tournament.[7]

Greinke was primarily a shortstop when he started playing baseball at Apopka High School. He hit over .400 with 31 home runs in his high school career.[8] He worked as a relief pitcher as a sophomore and junior, before becoming a starting pitcher as a senior.[8] During his senior season, in 2002, Greinke compiled a 9–2 win–loss record, a 0.55 earned run average (ERA), and 118 strikeouts in 63 innings. He also held opposing batters to a .107 average.[8] He led his team to a 32–2 record and their third straight district title, and was selected as Gatorade National Player of the Year.[9] After the high school season ended, he played in the Florida Athletic Coaches Association All-Star Classic and impressed pro scouts with his performance against some of the best hitters in the country.[10]

Professional career

[edit]

Draft and minor leagues

[edit]

The Kansas City Royals selected Greinke in the first round, with the sixth overall selection, of the 2002 Major League Baseball draft.[11] They felt Greinke was a polished player who could move quickly through their system.[8] Greinke turned down a scholarship offer from Clemson University[12][13] to sign with the Royals for a $2.5 million signing bonus.[14]

Greinke pitched in six minor league games (five starts) for the Royals farm teams in 2002: three games for the Gulf Coast Royals, two for the Low-A Spokane Indians, and two innings for the High-A Wilmington Blue Rocks of the Carolina League. He had a 3.97 ERA in 11+1⁄3 innings.[15]

In 2003, Greinke opened the season with Wilmington, where he was 11–1 with a 1.14 ERA in 14 starts.[16] Those numbers earned him spots on both the Carolina League mid-season[17] and post-season all-star teams as well as Carolina League Pitcher of the Year award.[18] The Blue Rocks' manager, Billy Gardner, Jr., remarked that Greinke was "the best pitcher I've ever seen at this level of the minor leagues."[19] He was promoted in July to the Double-A Wichita Wranglers of the Texas League,[19] where in nine starts he was 4–3 with a 3.23 ERA.[20] He had a couple of games where he struggled at Wichita and gave up a lot of runs. However, he bounced back and helped them make the playoffs with a victory in the final game of the season.[19]

Greinke was named the organization's Minor League Pitcher of the Year for 2003.[21] He was promoted by the Royals in 2004 to the Triple-A Omaha Royals of the Pacific Coast League, where he was 1–1 with a 2.51 ERA in six starts.[22]

Kansas City Royals (2004–2010)

[edit]
Greinke pitching for the Kansas City Royals in 2009

Greinke was called up to the major leagues on May 22, 2004, and made his major league debut against the Oakland Athletics, allowing two earned runs in five innings. At 20 years old, he was the youngest player in the majors and came close to picking up the win, but the team's closer, Jeremy Affeldt, gave up the lead with two outs in the bottom of the ninth inning.[23][24]

Greinke recorded his first career win on June 8, when he pitched seven scoreless innings against the Montreal Expos.[25] In 24 starts, Greinke finished the 2004 season with an 8–11 record and a 3.97 ERA.[26]

On June 10, 2005, Greinke recorded his first major league hit; a home run off Arizona Diamondbacks pitcher Russ Ortiz in a 12–11 loss. However, he also allowed 15 hits and 11 runs in that game. The 15 hits allowed tied a franchise record, while the 11 runs set a club record.[27] In 2005, Greinke led the American League in losses, finishing with a 5–17 record and a 5.80 ERA in 33 starts.[26]

Greinke was sometimes quiet and awkward in the clubhouse. To alleviate some of his anxiety and solitude, the Royals made arrangements for him to live with Royals Hall of Fame third baseman George Brett.[28] Still, by the 2005–2006 off-season he nearly quit baseball; Greinke later remarked that, at the time, he did not expect to return.[29] He left spring training for personal reasons in late February 2006.[30] It was later revealed that he was diagnosed with depression and a social anxiety disorder.[31] He reported back to the Royals' spring training facility in Surprise, Arizona, on April 17, where he underwent ongoing pitching sessions. He was placed on the 60-day disabled list due to psychological issues and took time away from baseball entirely.[32] He began seeing a sports psychologist and taking anti-depressant medication.[28] Greinke only made three appearances out of the bullpen in 2006, and finished the year 1–0 with a 4.26 ERA.[26]

In 2007, Greinke returned to the Royals rotation at the start of the season, but was assigned to the bullpen in early May.[33] In 52 appearances (14 starts), Greinke finished 2007 with a 7–7 record, one save, and a 3.69 ERA.[26]

Greinke returned to the rotation in 2008 and performed well that season. He made 32 starts in 2008 and finished with a 13–10 record along with 183 strikeouts.[26] His 3.47 ERA was the best by a full-time Royals starter in 11 years.[34] On January 26, 2009, he agreed to a four-year contract with the Royals worth $38 million.[34]

After ending the 2008 season with 15 scoreless innings, Greinke started off 2009 by not allowing a run in his first 24 innings, which meant that for 39 innings in a row, he had not given up a run.[35] Greinke was named American League (AL) Pitcher of the Month for April, his five wins, 0.50 ERA and 44 strikeouts all tops in the Majors.[36] On August 25, Greinke struck out 15 batters, breaking Mark Gubicza's team record for strikeouts in a single game.[37] On August 30, Greinke had a one-hit complete game against the Seattle Mariners.[38]

Greinke's record for the 2009 season was 16–8, and he posted an ERA of 2.16, the lowest in MLB.[26] On October 21, he was named American League Pitcher of the Year by Sporting News.[39] On October 28, Greinke was awarded the MLBPA Players Choice AL Pitcher of the Year. On November 17, 2009, he won the AL Cy Young Award.[40] Greinke credited some of his performance to his use of "modern pitching metrics" — statistics on team defense and defense independent pitching statistics — to calibrate his own approach to pitching. Greinke specifically mentioned FIP (fielding independent pitching), an indicator developed by sabermetrician Tom Tango, as his favorite statistic. "That's pretty much how I pitch, to try to keep my FIP as low as possible.[41]

Despite a stellar 2009 season, his performance in 2010 began to regress as he finished the year 10–14 with a 4.17 ERA and 181 strikeouts.[26]

Milwaukee Brewers (2011–2012)

[edit]

On December 17, 2010, Greinke reportedly asked the Royals to trade him, claiming that he was not motivated to play for a rebuilding team.[42] The Royals were unlikely to afford signing Greinke to a long-term deal once he became a free agent, so they agreed to trade him for some quality prospects.[43] On December 19, he was traded to the Milwaukee Brewers with Yuniesky Betancourt and $2 million for Alcides Escobar, Lorenzo Cain, Jeremy Jeffress, and Jake Odorizzi. He was given the number 13, instead of his preferred number 23, due to number 23 already being issued to Rickie Weeks.[44] Greinke would later admit that he handled the trade request poorly, saying that he was "pretty rude" on the way out,[45] but the deal worked out well for both teams.[46]

In February 2011, before reporting to his first spring training with the Brewers, Greinke suffered a fractured rib while playing basketball.[47] He started the 2011 season on the disabled list.[48]

Greinke with the Milwaukee Brewers in 2011

Greinke made his Brewers debut in the second game of a doubleheader on May 4, 2011.[49] Despite missing the first month of the season because of his injury, Greinke finished second on the team in wins with a 16–6 record in 28 starts. He also had a 3.83 ERA, and 201 strikeouts (seventh in the National League (NL)) in 171 innings pitched while surrendering just 45 walks.[26][50] Greinke became only the fifth Brewer pitcher to strike out 200+ batters in a season. He was fourth in the NL in won-lost percentage (.727) and sixth in wins.[50] He went a perfect 11–0 in his starts at Miller Park, the Brewers' home stadium.[51]

On April 7, 2012, the Brewers defeated the Cardinals 6–0 in Greinke's first start of the season after he pitched seven scoreless innings while giving up four hits and striking out seven.[52]

In an oddity, Greinke became the first pitcher to start three straight games in the Majors in 95 years. On July 7, he was ejected from the game after just four pitches for angrily throwing the ball into the ground following a close play at first base. The following day, Greinke started again, but lasted only until the third inning.[53] The All-Star break followed, and Greinke was the Brewers' starter on July 13, the team's next game. Greinke's third start ended after five innings. Before this, the most recent pitcher to start three consecutive games was Red Faber in 1917, who started both games of a September 3 doubleheader, throwing just six innings in total, followed by a complete game win the following day.[54]

To begin 2012, Greinke made 21 starts with the Brewers and had a 9–3 record, 120 strikeouts, and a 3.44 ERA.[55]

Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim (2012)

[edit]

Despite his success with the Brewers, the team was struggling and not likely to make a playoff run. When talks on a contract extension broke down, the team traded Greinke to the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim on July 27, 2012, in exchange for top infield prospect Jean Segura and pitchers Ariel Peña and Johnny Hellweg. Brewers General Manager Doug Melvin remarked that it was one of the tougher decisions he had to make because he was fond of Greinke.[55]

Greinke made his first start for the Angels on July 29.[56] After a stretch of four unproductive starts from August 3–19 (1–1, 7.20 ERA in 25 innings), Greinke followed up with four consecutive starts of at least seven innings and two or fewer runs — all of them wins. In those starts, he produced a 1.88 ERA in 28+1⁄3 innings.[56]

Greinke became the first pitcher since 1920 to record 13 strikeouts in five innings or less in a game against the Seattle Mariners on September 25. He then combined with four other Angels pitchers to tie an American League record by striking out 20 batters in a nine-inning game.[57] He finished his time with the Angels with a 6–2 record and a 3.53 ERA in 13 starts.[56] Overall in 2012, combined with both teams, Greinke made 34 starts with a 15–5 record, 200 strikeouts, and a 3.48 ERA.[26]

Los Angeles Dodgers (2013–2015)

[edit]

Greinke agreed to a six-year free agent contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers worth $147 million, on December 8, 2012. The deal, which was finalized on December 10, was the largest ever for a right-handed pitcher at the time it was signed.[58] It was surpassed a year later by Félix Hernández's seven-year, $175 million contract extension with the Seattle Mariners.[59] Greinke later explained that he chose the Dodgers over the Texas Rangers, who also were pursuing him, primarily because they offered more money.[60]

On April 11, 2013, Greinke fractured his left collarbone in a brawl with Carlos Quentin of the San Diego Padres after Quentin was hit by an inside pitch and charged the mound.[61] He was placed on the disabled list and it was revealed that he would require surgery,[62] which was performed on April 13.[63] It was estimated that he would miss eight weeks of the season. However, he returned to action on May 10 when he pitched in a rehab game for the Class-A Rancho Cucamonga Quakes.[64] He returned to the Dodgers on May 15, tossing 5+1⁄3 innings of one-run ball and striking out four to earn the win.[65]

On June 11, 2013, Greinke was hit in the head and neck area by Arizona Diamondbacks pitcher Ian Kennedy, leading to a bench-clearing brawl. Because Greinke did not participate in the brawl, he was unaffected.[66]

Greinke with the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2013

Greinke picked up his 100th career win on August 5, 2013, against the St. Louis Cardinals.[67] He was 5–0 with a 1.23 ERA during the month of August and was selected as National League Pitcher of the Month.[68] Greinke finished his first season with the Dodgers with a 15–4 record and 2.63 ERA in 28 starts. He also batted .328, the highest batting average for a Dodgers pitcher since Orel Hershiser in the 1993 season.[69] He was awarded with the Silver Slugger Award as the best hitting pitcher in the National League.[70]

Greinke began the 2014 season by setting an MLB record with 22 straight starts (dating back to July 2013) where he allowed two or fewer earned runs.[71][72] He was selected to the National League squad at the 2014 Major League Baseball All-Star Game[73] and finished the season with a 17–8 record and a 2.71 ERA in 32 starts, the highest win total in his career.[26] He won the Gold Glove Award as the best fielding pitcher in the National League.[74]

When Justin Upton of the San Diego Padres homered against Greinke in the eighth inning on June 13, 2015, it was the last run he surrendered until the All-Star break.[75] Greinke was then selected to the All-Star Game, his second straight appearance,[76] and chosen to be the starting pitcher for the National League squad. At that point in the season, Greinke carried a major league-leading 1.48 ERA with a 7–2 record.[77] After Greinke retired 28 consecutive batters over a span of two starts, Nationals outfielder Michael Taylor ended the streak in the third inning on July 19.[78]

Greinke's recorded a scoreless innings streak which reached 45 innings; it started on June 18 and ended on July 26 start against the New York Mets at Citi Field and is the sixth-longest streak in MLB history. He shared the NL Player of the Week honors with his teammate Clayton Kershaw for July 13–19.[79] Greinke finished the 2015 season with a 19–3 record, 200 strikeouts, and a major-league-best 1.66 ERA.[80] His ERA was the second lowest in Dodgers history behind Rube Marquard in 1916, and his ERA+ (225) and major-league-leading WHIP (0.844) were the best in franchise history.[81][82] He led all major league pitchers in left on base percentage, stranding 86.5% of base runners.[83]

Greinke pitched in two games in the 2015 National League Division Series against the New York Mets. He allowed five runs in 13+2⁄3 innings and took the loss in the deciding fifth game in the series.[84] At the conclusion of the series, it was announced that he would opt out of the last three years of his contract with the Dodgers and become a free agent.[85] He officially opted out on November 3.[86]

After the season, Greinke was selected as the Outstanding National League Pitcher at the Players Choice Awards,[87] and won his second Gold Glove Award.[88] Greinke finished second in the NL Cy Young Award voting to Jake Arrieta.[89]

Arizona Diamondbacks (2016–2019)

[edit]
Greinke with the Arizona Diamondbacks in 2016

On December 8, 2015, Greinke signed a six-year, $206.5 million contract with the Arizona Diamondbacks.[90] Greinke started on Opening Day 2016 at Chase Field against the Colorado Rockies; he gave up seven runs in four innings, including two home runs to rookie shortstop Trevor Story, who was making his MLB debut. The Diamondbacks lost the game 10–5.[91] In his second start, on April 9, Greinke matched up against Kyle Hendricks and the Chicago Cubs. He allowed three runs in the first inning, and struggled through the rest of his outing. The Diamondbacks lost the game 4–2.[92] Greinke got his first win as a Diamondback on April 19, 2016, against the San Francisco Giants, allowing just one run in over six innings of work.[93][94] On July 3, 2016, Greinke was placed on the 15-day disabled list due to a left oblique strain.[95][96] On August 24, 2016, he recorded his 2000th career strikeout in the Diamondbacks' 10–9 win over Atlanta Braves.[97] Greinke made 26 starts in his first season with Arizona, and he had a 13–7 record and a 4.37 ERA in 158+2⁄3 innings.[26] He won his third consecutive Gold Glove Award after the season.[98]

In 2017, Greinke was selected to the NL All-Star team, his fourth All-Star selection. At the time of his selection he was 10–4 with a 3.05 ERA in 109+1⁄3 innings, 128 strikeouts (10.21 strikeouts per nine innings), WHIP of 1.02 and a .219 opponents batting average.[99] On September 16 versus the San Francisco Giants at AT&T Park, he completed eight shutout innings with two hits allowed and eight strikeouts as Arizona won, 2−0. His game score of 90 was the second-best of his career, and he also hit two doubles at the plate.[100] In 32 starts in 2017, Greinke finished with a 17–7 record, 215 strikeouts, and a 3.20 ERA in 202+1⁄3 innings.[26] The Diamondbacks finished with a 93–69 record and clinched a Wild Card spot, but lost to the Dodgers in the Division Series. Greinke won his fourth consecutive Rawlings Gold Glove Award after the 2017 season. He also finished fourth in the Cy Young voting behind Max Scherzer, Clayton Kershaw and Stephen Strasburg.[101]

Greinke was once again named an All-Star in 2018.[102] He finished the season with a 15–11 record and a 3.21 ERA in 33 starts.[103] Following the season, he won his fifth consecutive Gold Glove Award.[104]

On April 2, 2019, Greinke hit two home runs and struck out 10 as the Diamondbacks won 8–5 against the Padres.[105] In 2019 with Arizona before he was traded, he was 10–4 with a 2.90 ERA.[26]

Greinke batted .271 with three home runs and 8 RBI with the Diamondbacks in 2019, earning him his second career Silver Slugger Award.[106]

Houston Astros (2019–2021)

[edit]

On July 31, 2019, the Diamondbacks traded Greinke to the Houston Astros with cash considerations for four minor league prospects: Corbin Martin, J. B. Bukauskas, Seth Beer, and Joshua Rojas.[107] The Diamondbacks also agreed to pay $24 million of Greinke's remaining $77 million salary.

On September 14, 2019, against the Kansas City Royals, Greinke became the 19th pitcher in MLB history to win a game against all 30 MLB franchises.[108] In 2019 with the Astros, he was 8–1 with a 3.02 ERA.[26] Between the two teams, in 2019 he was 18–5 with a 2.93 ERA, as in 208.2 innings (sixth in the majors) over 33 starts he walked only 30 batters (1.3 walks per nine innings, the best ratio of his career and third-best in the major leagues), and had a WHIP of 0.982 (fifth-best in the major leagues).[26] At the plate, he batted .280/.308/.580 with three home runs and 8 RBI in 50 at bats.[26] Greinke started Games 3 and 7 of the 2019 World Series for Houston. Greinke allowed two runs on two hits in 6+1⁄3 innings in his Game 7 start.[109][110] He was pulled by manager A. J. Hinch in the seventh inning after surrendering a one-out home run to Anthony Rendon, followed by a walk to Juan Soto, with the Astros leading 2–1.[109][110] He was replaced by Will Harris, who allowed a two-run home run to Howie Kendrick. The Astros lost the game 6–2, prompting questions by members of the media about Hinch's decision to pull Greinke.[109][110][111]

In 2020, Greinke produced a 3–3 record with a 4.03 ERA in 12 starts spanning 67 innings, and was second in the AL in walks per nine innings (1.209) and fourth in home runs per nine innings (0.806).[26][112]

On April 1, 2021, Greinke earned his first Opening Day win and 209th win overall as the Astros defeated the Oakland Athletics, 8–1, at the Oakland Coliseum. He pitched six scoreless innings, the 65th time his career he has produced at least six scoreless innings.[113] In the May 25 contest versus the Los Angeles Dodgers, he reached 3,000 career innings, the 135th pitcher in major league history to achieve this milestone.[114] On June 4, 2021, Greinke threw a complete game for the first time since April 19, 2017. He allowed six hits with one run and one walk and three strikeouts in a 13–1 win over the Toronto Blue Jays at Sahlen Field in Buffalo, New York.[115]

In 2021, Greinke finished with an 11–6 record and 4.16 ERA over 30 games (29 starts).[26] He ranked second in the AL in walks per nine innings (1.895) and fifth in WHIP (1.170) and home runs (30).[116] In the World Series versus the Atlanta Braves, Greinke started Game 4, recording four scoreless innings. At the plate, he singled in the second inning to become the first Astros pitcher to get a hit in World Series play.[117] In Game 5, he was called in as a pinch hitter in the fourth inning and recorded a single, becoming the first pitcher to record a pinch hit in the World Series since Jack Bentley in 1923.[118] On November 3, 2021, Greinke was declared a free agent.[119]

Return to Kansas City Royals (2022–2023)

[edit]
Greinke pitching for the Kansas City Royals against the Cardinals in 2023.

Greinke expressed interest in finishing his career with the Royals, which he mentioned to George Brett during the 2021-22 lockout.[120] On March 16, 2022, Greinke signed a one-year, $13 million contract to return to the Royals.[121] On March 31, Greinke was announced as the Royals' Opening Day starter, the first time he'd been given the role for the Royals since 2010, marking the largest gap between Opening Day pitching starts for the same team.[122] He made his 500th career start on June 29 versus the Texas Rangers, going six innings in a 2−1 win.[123] Greinke finished 4–9 with a 3.68 ERA in 26 starts with the Royals in 2022.[26]

Greinke re-signed with the Royals on a one-year contract worth $8.5 million on February 3, 2023.[124] On March 24, Greinke was named the Royals' Opening Day starter for the second consecutive year.[125] On May 15, Greinke became the fifth pitcher (after Nolan Ryan, Randy Johnson, Roger Clemens, and Greg Maddux) to strike out 1,000 unique batters over his career.[126] He became a free agent following the season.

As of September 2025, Greinke had not officially announced retirement but had not pitched in the 2024 and 2025 seasons, last having pitched in October 2023.[citation needed] He is only 21 strikeouts short of 3,000, a milestone that only 20 MLB players have achieved.[citation needed]

Pitching style

[edit]

Greinke throws six different pitches:

His curveball has two speeds with different types of movement, and he will sometimes throw a curve that is more in the middle range combining the types of movement. His two-seamer is his most-used pitch against right-handed hitters and is used more frequently than against lefties, as is his slider. His changeup is thrown only to left-handed hitters. Greinke's curveball is typically used early in the count, while his slider is his most common two-strike pitch.[128]

Greinke's slider has been one of his more effective pitches. Hitters have only a .154 batting average and .230 slugging percentage against the pitch. It has produced 51% of his strikeouts. Its whiff rate is 42%, and more than half the pitches put in play are ground balls.[129] However, he limits the use of the slider in order not to put excessive strain on his arm.[130]

Greinke has produced good strikeout-to-walk ratios throughout his career, finishing in his league's top 10 five times[26] and ranking eighth among active pitchers in the category, at 3.76:1 as of the end of the 2017 regular season.[131]

Greinke has been described as a "scientist as a pitcher" and is known for preparing for each start more extensively than most.[132]

Owing to his upright overhand pitching style, with a pause where the ball is hidden down next to his right knee before release, a forward-facing follow-through, and late movement that reaches the lower third of the strike zone, he is in an excellent position for fielding soft, short hits coming at him, which helped him gain many assists and six consecutive NL Gold Glove Awards as a pitcher. He was still awarded an NL Gold Glove in 2019 because he started the 2019 season in Arizona before being traded.

Greinke with his son at the 2018 Major League Baseball Home Run Derby

Batting

[edit]

Greinke is a good hitting pitcher, having won two Silver Slugger Awards in his career with a .225 batting average. He has also amassed nine stolen bases over his career (on ten stolen base attempts), and he has expressed a desire to end his career with ten home runs and ten stolen bases; he has nine of each, with his last home run and stolen base each being in 2019. In 2013 he hit .328 (19 for 58), the seventh highest batting average for a pitcher in the DH era.[citation needed] He entered Game 5 of the 2021 World Series as a pinch-hitter and recorded a hit, being the first pitcher to have a pinch hit in a World Series game since Jack Bentley of the New York Giants in 1923.[133] As of 2025, he is the last pitcher to have a hit in a postseason game, as the designated hitter was introduced in the National League in 2022, meaning that the pitcher is not required to hit at any point. In his fourth at-bat as a major leaguer, Greinke hit his first home run. Years later, when teammate Alex Gordon was in a slump, Greinke had the idea to take him into the video room and show the clip of his home run multiple times before leaving by saying, "Do more of that."[134]

Personal life

[edit]

Greinke is married to Emily Kuchar, whom he met while attending Apopka High School. Kuchar is a former Dallas Cowboys cheerleader and was Miss Daytona Beach USA 2008.[135][136] Their sons were born in 2015, 2017, and 2021.[137][138] They reside in Orlando, Florida.

Greinke's younger brother, Luke, was also a pitcher who played college baseball at Auburn University.[139] Luke was drafted by the New York Yankees in the 12th round (380th overall) of the 2008 MLB draft,[140] but was out of baseball a year later because of injuries.[141]

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

Zack Greinke

View on Grokipedia
from Grokipedia
Donald Zackary Greinke (born October 21, 1983) is an American former professional baseball pitcher who played 20 seasons in (MLB) from 2004 to 2023, primarily as a for six teams. Drafted sixth overall by the out of in the 2002 MLB Draft, Greinke made his MLB debut with the Royals in 2004 at age 20 and quickly emerged as one of the league's premier pitchers. His career highlights include winning the in 2009 with a 16–7 record, 2.16 ERA, and 242 strikeouts for the Royals, and the National League in 2015 with the , where he posted a 19–3 record, 1.66 ERA, and 200 strikeouts. Over his career, Greinke earned six selections (2009, 2014–2015, 2017–2019), six Rawlings Gold Glove Awards at (2014–2019) for his exceptional fielding, two Silver Slugger Awards (2013, 2019) as the National League's top-hitting , and two titles (2009 AL, 2015 NL). He played for the Royals (2004–2010, 2022–2023), Brewers (2011), Los Angeles (2012), Dodgers (2012–2015), Arizona Diamondbacks (2016–2018), and Houston Astros (2018–2021), compiling a 225–156 record with a 3.49 , 3,389.1 , and 2,979 strikeouts in 586 games (541 starts). Greinke's longevity and versatility were notable; he led the league in WHIP once (2015), while his defensive prowess set him apart among pitchers. After a difficult 2023 return to the Royals (2–15, 5.06 ERA in 30 games), he did not pitch in 2024 or 2025 and has not formally retired as of November 2025, though he threw a for the Royals in October 2025, leaving open the possibility of a return.

Early years

Childhood and family background

Donald Zackary Greinke was born on October 21, 1983, in . He is the son of Donald and Marsha Greinke, both of whom worked as public school teachers before retiring. Greinke's family emphasized education and athletics, providing consistent encouragement for his sporting pursuits from a young age. He has a younger brother, Luke Greinke, born in 1986, who followed in his footsteps by playing college at and being drafted by the New York Yankees in 2008. The brothers shared a close bond, with Zack using part of his early professional signing bonus to purchase a for Luke. Family outings often involved casual games, such as playing catch on local fields, which helped foster Zack's love for . The Greinkes resided in central Florida throughout Zack's childhood, including in Apopka, a northwest of Orlando, where he spent much of his formative years. His initial exposure to organized came through youth leagues, starting with first base at age 4 and progressing to Little League participation, where he honed basic skills alongside family-supported recreational play. From an early age, Greinke displayed remarkable athletic talent, particularly in hand-eye coordination, as evidenced by his consistent success catching balls during games with his father at age 4 and his status as a top national player with an undefeated 50-0 record at age 8. This aptitude extended to other sports like and Ping-Pong by age 11, but his passion increasingly turned toward , including an early fascination with throwing that involved frequent catch sessions starting around age 5.

High school career and draft

Zack Greinke attended in , graduating in 2002. Initially a standout , he hit over .400 with 31 home runs across his high school career, showcasing exceptional athleticism as a . He transitioned more prominently to pitching during his sophomore and junior years, working primarily in relief before becoming a starter as a senior. In his senior season of 2002, Greinke excelled on the mound, posting a 9-2 record with a 0.55 and 118 strikeouts over 63 , while limiting opponents to a .106 . Offensively, he batted .480 with 10 home runs and 40 RBIs, contributing to Apopka's 30-3 record and a berth in the state playoffs. His dominant performance earned him the National Player of the Year award, recognizing him as the top high school player in the United States. Greinke also garnered multiple regional and state honors, including selection to the Florida All-State team as a junior in 2001, where he hit .444 with nine home runs and struck out 76 batters in 52 1/3 innings. He was named a All-American and earned a spot on the ABCA/Rawlings High School First Team. That summer, he participated in the USA Baseball Junior National Team trials in , impressing scouts with his velocity and command. Greinke's high school success led to his selection by the as the sixth overall pick in the first round of the 2002 MLB Draft. Despite holding a scholarship offer from , he opted to turn professional, signing a contract with a $2.475 million bonus in July 2002. This decision marked his immediate entry into the Royals' system, forgoing .

Professional career

Minor leagues and MLB debut

Following his selection as the sixth overall pick in the 2002 MLB Draft by the , Zack Greinke was assigned to their system, beginning with the rookie-level Gulf Coast League Royals. There, he made three starts, posting a 0-0 record with a 1.93 over 4.2 , allowing 3 hits and striking out 4. He then advanced quickly, appearing in two starts for the Low-A (0-0, 7.71 over 4.2 , 9 hits, 5 strikeouts) and one relief appearance for the High-A (0-0, 0.00 over 2.0 , 1 hit, 0 strikeouts) later that season, finishing with an overall 0-0 mark and 3.97 in 11.1 total across three levels. In 2003, Greinke opened the season with the High-A Wilmington Blue Rocks of the Carolina League, where he excelled in 14 starts with an 11-1 record, 1.14 ERA, and 78 strikeouts over 87 innings, earning him the Carolina League Pitcher of the Year award. Promoted midseason to Double-A Wichita Wranglers, he went 4-3 with a 3.23 ERA in 9 starts over 53 innings, contributing to a combined minor league season of 15-4 and 1.93 ERA across 23 starts. His command and efficiency, highlighted by a 0.94 WHIP and just 18 walks in 140 innings, marked him as the Royals' top prospect and a fast riser. Greinke's rapid ascent continued into 2004, when he began the year at Triple-A Omaha Royals, recording a 1-1 mark with a 2.51 in six starts over 28.2 before earning a promotion to the majors. He made his MLB debut on May 22, 2004, at age 20 against the , pitching 5 and allowing 5 hits, 2 earned runs, 1 walk, and 1 in a no-decision—becoming the youngest Royals starting pitcher since 1968 and the third-youngest in franchise history. As a , Greinke made 24 starts for the Royals, finishing with an 8-11 record and 3.97 over 145 , while posting a 1.17 and 100 strikeouts—solid but uneven results reflecting his adjustment to the pressures of big-league competition. Early in his MLB tenure, he faced challenges with consistency, including occasional dips in fastball velocity from his minor league peaks around 93 mph, as he adapted to professional demands and refined his command amid high expectations as a top prospect.

Kansas City Royals (2004–2010)

Greinke's tenure with the began with his MLB debut on May 22, 2004, at age 20, marking him as one of the youngest players in franchise history. In 24 starts that season, he finished 8-11 with a 3.97 and 100 strikeouts over 145 , showing early promise despite the Royals' poor performance. His first full season in was challenging, as he posted a 5-17 record—the most losses in the —with a 5.80 in 33 starts and 114 strikeouts across 183 , amid the Royals' dismal 56-106 finish that placed them last in the AL Central. The struggles extended into 2006, when Greinke stepped away from baseball during to seek treatment for , limiting him to just three relief appearances (1-0, 4.26 , 5 strikeouts in 6 1/3 ). Greinke returned in 2007, transitioning back to the majors with a hybrid role in the and , where he went 7-7 with a 3.69 , 106 strikeouts, and 14 starts over 122 . By , fully entrenched as a starter, he rebounded strongly with a 13-10 record, 3.47 , and a career-high 183 strikeouts in 32 starts spanning 202 1/3 , helping anchor a Royals staff that improved slightly to 75 wins. The pinnacle of Greinke's first Royals stint arrived in 2009, his breakout year, as he dominated with a 16-8 record, a major-league leading 2.16 , and 242 strikeouts in 33 starts and 229 1/3 innings—earning him the unanimously and his first selection. In 2010, his final season with Kansas City, Greinke logged a 10-14 record with a 4.17 and 181 strikeouts in 33 starts over 220 innings, as the Royals again hovered around .500 at 67-95. Seeking a change and unwilling to sign a long-term extension, Greinke requested a after the season, leading to his December 19 deal to the Brewers in exchange for shortstop , outfielder , pitcher , and prospect . Over seven seasons (2004–) with the Royals, Greinke made 169 starts, compiling a 60-67 record, 3.75 ERA, and 931 strikeouts in 1,108 innings, evolving from a raw prospect into an elite pitcher despite the franchise's consistent rebuild efforts.

Milwaukee Brewers (2011–2012)

Following his Cy Young-winning tenure with the , Zack Greinke was acquired by the Milwaukee Brewers via trade on December 19, 2010, in exchange for , , pitchers and , along with catcher and cash considerations from the Royals. The deal reflected Greinke's high value as a proven ace, coming off his 2009 . In 2011, Greinke made an immediate impact after missing the first two weeks due to a injury sustained in . He posted a 16–6 record with a 3.83 over 28 starts and 171⅔ , striking out 201 batters while walking just 45. His performance anchored the Brewers' rotation and helped propel the team to the division title with a 96–66 record, marking their first playoff appearance since 1982. In the postseason, Greinke started two games during Milwaukee's NLDS victory over the Diamondbacks and their subsequent NLCS loss to the Cardinals, finishing 1–1 with a 6.48 in 16⅔ innings. Greinke's strong form continued into 2012, where he went 9–3 with a 3.44 ERA in 21 starts and 123 innings for the Brewers, recording 122 strikeouts and maintaining a 1.20 before the trade deadline. On July 27, 2012, the Brewers traded him to the in exchange for shortstop , along with pitchers John Hellweg and Ariel Peña, as shifted focus amid a middling season. The move came after Greinke's pre-trade performance featured a 9–2 record and a 2.62 ERA through his first 18 starts, showcasing his dominance at home with an MLB-record 23 consecutive home decisions without a loss dating back to 2010. Over his 1½ seasons with the Brewers, Greinke compiled a 25–9 record with a 3.67 across 49 starts and 294⅔ , providing stability to the rotation during a competitive period that included a division championship. His tenure highlighted his adaptability to the National League, where he also contributed offensively with a .308 in 82 plate appearances.

Los Angeles Angels (2012)

On July 27, 2012, the acquired Zack Greinke from the Brewers in a trade that sent prospect and two minor league pitchers to in exchange for the right-hander, who was approaching free agency. Greinke made his Angels debut on July 29 against the , allowing two runs over seven innings in a 2-0 loss, marking the start of an initial adjustment period to the competition. In his first five starts with the Angels, Greinke posted a 1-2 record with a 6.19 ERA, yielding 22 earned runs in 32 innings while facing familiar divisional foes like the and Texas Rangers, where he struggled with command and allowing hard contact from power hitters. Despite the early challenges, Greinke settled in over the remainder of the season, contributing significantly to the Angels' rotation as they pushed for a playoff spot. In 13 total starts with , he finished 6-2 with a 3.53 ERA, 78 strikeouts, and a 1.19 over 89.1 , limiting opponents to a .227 and helping stabilize the pitching staff amid injuries. Notable performances included a dominant outing on September 25 against the Seattle Mariners, where he struck out a career-high 13 in five while allowing just one run in a 15-5 victory, and a strong no-decision on September 20 versus the Rangers, tossing eight of one-run ball with eight strikeouts. These efforts highlighted his adaptability, though the Angels ultimately finished 89-73, three games behind the and Texas Rangers for the AL West title and wild-card berths, missing the postseason. Following the season, Greinke elected free agency on , , and quickly became one of the top prizes on the market due to his proven track record. On , he signed a six-year, $147 million contract with the , the richest deal ever for a right-handed at the time, opting out of a potential return to the Angels in pursuit of a long-term commitment on the West Coast.

Los Angeles Dodgers (2013–2015)

Greinke joined the prior to the 2013 season, signing a six-year, $147 million contract after his brief tenure with the Angels. In his first year with the team, he posted a 15–4 record with a over 28 starts, earning his fourth selection. His strong performance helped anchor the Dodgers' rotation as they won the division title for the first time since , finishing with a franchise-record 42–8 mark after the break. In the postseason, Greinke made three starts across the NLCS against the Cardinals, going 1–1 with a in , though the Dodgers lost the series in six games. The 2014 season saw Greinke continue his excellence, recording 17 wins against eight losses with a 2.71 in 32 starts, once again selected as an . He also won his first at , recognizing his defensive prowess with nine . The Dodgers repeated as NL West champions, but their playoff run ended in the NLDS against the Cardinals, where Greinke made one start, allowing no runs over seven innings in a no-decision. Greinke's tenure peaked in 2015, when he achieved a career-best 19–3 record and a league-leading 1.66 across 32 starts, earning honors, his first Gold Glove with the Dodgers, and the National League —his second overall. The Dodgers secured their third consecutive NL West title, and Greinke contributed significantly in the playoffs, winning Game 3 of the NLDS against the with seven innings of one-run ball before taking the loss in Game 2 of the NLCS versus the (1–1, 3.29 over two starts). Over his three seasons with the Dodgers, Greinke compiled a 51–15 record with a 2.33 in 92 starts, establishing himself as one of the league's premier pitchers during the team's sustained contention. Following the 2015 campaign, amid speculation about his future amid the team's high payroll, Greinke opted out of the final years of his contract and entered free agency, ultimately signing with the Arizona Diamondbacks.

Arizona Diamondbacks (2016–2019)

Following his Award-winning 2015 season with the , Zack Greinke signed a six-year, $206.5 million contract with the Arizona Diamondbacks as a on December 4, 2015, marking the largest deal in franchise history at the time. In his debut season with Arizona in 2016, Greinke recorded a 13-7 mark with a 4.37 over 26 starts and 158 2/3 , striking out 134 batters while earning his third career for exceptional fielding. On August 24, 2016, he recorded his 2,000th career by fanning Freddie in a 10-9 win. The Diamondbacks struggled to a 69-93 record that year, finishing last in the despite Greinke's contributions. Greinke rebounded strongly in 2017, going 17-7 with a 3.20 in 32 starts, logging 202 1/3 innings and fanning 215 hitters en route to his fifth selection and fourth Gold Glove. That season featured several dominant outings, including a May 11 performance against the where he carried a into the eighth inning before Gregory Polanco's leadoff ended the bid in Arizona's 2-1 victory. In 2018, Greinke maintained consistency with a 15-11 record and 3.21 across 33 starts and 207 2/3 innings, earning his sixth nod and fifth consecutive Glove while striking out 199. His fastball velocity dipped slightly to an average of 92.1 mph amid a minor offseason surgery recovery, but he adapted effectively with his and to limit opponents to a .231 . Greinke's 2019 campaign with began promisingly, as he posted a 10-4 record with a 2.90 in 23 starts and 146 innings before the All-Star break, securing his seventh appearance, sixth Gold Glove, and second Silver Slugger for his .289 with five home runs. He flirted with history on June 13 against the , retiring the first 18 batters before allowing two hits in the seventh during a 5-0 win. On July 31, 2019, with the Diamondbacks out of playoff contention at 53-51, the team traded him to the Astros in exchange for prospects , , , and , along with $11.5 million to offset his contract. Over four seasons with the Diamondbacks, Greinke compiled a 55-29 record with a 3.42 in 114 starts, totaling 714 2/3 innings and 683 strikeouts while winning four Gold Gloves and three berths.

Houston Astros (2019–2021)

On July 31, 2019, the Houston Astros acquired Zack Greinke from the Arizona Diamondbacks in exchange for three prospects and cash considerations, aiming to bolster their rotation for a postseason push. In 12 games (all starts) after the trade, Greinke excelled with an 8-1 record and a 2.55 over 71 , striking out 60 batters while limiting opponents to a .221 . The Astros clinched the title with 107 wins and advanced through the ALDS and ALCS before falling to the in the ; Greinke made four postseason appearances (three starts), posting a 0-2 record with a 4.68 in 19 . The 2020 season, shortened to 60 games due to the , saw Greinke go 3-3 with a 3.91 in 12 starts, logging 67 and 67 strikeouts as the Astros' most experienced starter. Houston finished second in the AL West and reached the ALCS, where they lost to the in seven games; Greinke contributed two postseason starts, including a quality outing in Game 4 of the ALCS (6 , 2 earned runs). Entering 2021, Greinke expressed concerns about playing amid ongoing risks but ultimately participated after the season's delayed start in ; he opted out of his contract at the end of the year to test free agency. He recorded an 11-6 mark with a 4.16 across 30 appearances (29 starts), totaling 171 and 120 strikeouts, though his performance dipped late in the year following a bout with that sidelined him for over two weeks in August and September. Over his three seasons with , Greinke compiled a 22-14 record with a 3.77 in 53 starts (309 , 247 strikeouts), providing veteran stability to a rotation that reached the ALCS each year.
YearGames (Starts)RecordStrikeouts
201912 (12)8-12.5571.060
202012 (12)3-33.9167.067
202130 (29)11-64.16171.0120
Total54 (53)22-143.77309.0247

Return to Kansas City Royals (2022–2023)

Following his departure from the Houston Astros, Zack Greinke signed a one-year, $13 million contract with the on March 16, 2022, marking an emotional homecoming to the team where he began his career and won the 2009 . Greinke cited his early years with the Royals as a key motivator for the return, expressing a desire to pitch in front of familiar fans and contribute to the franchise's rebuilding efforts. In his first season back, he made 26 starts, posting a 4-9 record with a 3.68 over 137 . Greinke re-signed with the Royals on February 3, 2023, to another one-year deal worth $8.5 million, continuing his role as a starter on a last-place team. His performance declined markedly that year, finishing with a 2-15 record and a 5.06 in 30 appearances (27 starts) across 142.1 innings, as his strikeout rate dropped and opponents capitalized on increased contact. On August 8, 2023, Greinke was placed on the 15-day with right posterior elbow soreness, retroactive to August 7, sidelining him for the remainder of the season after a start against the . Over his two-year return to Kansas City, Greinke went 6-24 with a 4.38 in 53 starts totaling 279.1 innings, reflecting a clear performance decline from his prime but still providing stability to a young rotation. Fans showed widespread appreciation for his contributions, underscoring his status as one of the franchise's all-time greats. Greinke elected free agency on November 2, 2023, concluding his second stint with the Royals.

Free agency and retirement considerations (2024–present)

Following the conclusion of his contract with the after the 2023 season, in which he posted a 2-15 record amid team struggles, Zack Greinke entered free agency at age 40 as an unsigned veteran pitcher with no or major league appearances in 2024. Despite expressing in continuing his career, Greinke did not secure a contract during the 2024 offseason, even as reports indicated potential from his former team, the Royals, whose J.J. Picollo stated openness to a reunion depending on market conditions. Ultimately, no deal materialized, allowing Greinke to prioritize family time after relocating to with his wife and three children. As of November 19, 2025, Greinke, now 42, remains without an official retirement announcement and has not pitched professionally since 2023, leading to widespread reports suggesting a low likelihood of a major league return given his age and the lack of offers. His career concluded with a 225–156 record, a 3.49 , 2,979 strikeouts, and 541 starts over 20 seasons, amassing 3,389.1 that underscore his exceptional durability as one of the most consistent workhorses of his . While Greinke has occasionally thrown at facilities like the Diamondbacks' complex, his focus appears to have shifted toward family and potential non-playing roles, such as mentoring younger players, though no formal commitments have been reported.

Playing style

Pitching repertoire and mechanics

Zack Greinke's pitching has long been characterized by a diverse mix of offerings that emphasize command and deception rather than overwhelming . His core pitches include a typically ranging from 88 to 93 mph, a serving as his primary out pitch at around 79 mph, a clocked at 73 mph, and a in the 87 mph range. Over time, he incorporated a cutter and sinker, both around 90 mph, expanding his arsenal to up to eight distinct pitch types, including occasional split-finger and slower variations. This variety allows him to tunnel pitches effectively, making it difficult for hitters to differentiate trajectories early in their flight. Greinke's mechanics feature a fluid, repeatable delivery that contributes to his exceptional control, evidenced by a career walk rate of 2.1 BB/9. He maintains balance throughout his motion, particularly from the stretch position, where he replicates his windup action to minimize disruption. Known for his quick and deceptive pickoff moves, Greinke frequently holds runners close, with notable instances of multiple attempts per outing to disrupt base stealers. His ability to vary slots and release points further enhances , prioritizing precision over power. Throughout his career, Greinke's style evolved from a power-oriented approach in his early years to one reliant on craftiness amid declining . During his peak from 2009 to 2015, his reached up to 94 mph, supporting aggressive strike-zone attacks that yielded low ERAs, such as his 2.16 mark in 2009. By 2023, his average had dropped to 89 mph, prompting greater emphasis on pitch sequencing, weak contact induction, and offspeed offerings to compensate. This shift highlighted his adaptability, as he maintained effectiveness by inducing ground balls and soft contact at rates above league averages in later seasons. A hallmark of Greinke's pitching is his prowess in generating weak contact, with opponents' average exit velocities often below 85 mph against him. His fielding ability complements this, earning him six consecutive from 2014 to 2019 for exceptional reactions and range around the mound.

Batting and defensive skills

Zack Greinke demonstrated notable proficiency at the plate for a , posting a career of .225 with 9 home runs and 34 RBI over 521 at-bats in regular-season play. His hitting was particularly effective during his time in the National League, where pitchers were required to bat until the adoption of the universal rule. Greinke's approach emphasized contact and , allowing him to contribute offensively in ways uncommon for his position. One of Greinke's standout seasons came in 2013 with the , when he batted .328 with 19 hits in 58 at-bats, leading all National League pitchers in batting average and earning his first . He replicated this offensive recognition in 2019 with the Arizona Diamondbacks, batting .280 with 14 hits, including four doubles, a triple, and three home runs in 50 at-bats to secure his second . These peaks highlighted his ability to generate bunt singles and occasional gap power, using precise bat control to exploit defensive shifts and advance runners effectively. Defensively, Greinke excelled as a fielder, winning six consecutive Gold Glove Awards from 2014 to 2019 while with the Dodgers and Diamondbacks. His career fielding percentage as a stands at .989, reflecting consistent reliability in handling comebackers, bunts, and ground balls. Greinke's strong arm enabled him to record numerous putouts and assists, often turning potential hits into outs through quick releases and accurate throws to first base. Greinke's versatility extended to occasional pinch-hitting roles in the National League, where he appeared as a substitute batter in key situations, including a notable pinch-hit single in Game 5 of the for the Houston Astros—the first such hit by a pitcher in postseason play since 1923. This adaptability underscored his value beyond pitching, allowing teams to leverage his hitting in late-game scenarios without disrupting the lineup.

Awards and legacy

Major individual awards

Zack Greinke's major individual awards reflect his versatility and dominance across pitching, fielding, and hitting during key career peaks. In 2009, while anchoring a struggling team that improved from 71 wins the prior year to 72, he captured the after leading the majors with a 2.16 , posting 16 wins, and striking out 242 batters in 33 starts. He received 25 of 28 first-place votes from the , underscoring his control and efficiency as the primary criteria in a season where wins alone often swayed outcomes. That same year, Greinke was also honored as the Sporting News Pitcher of the Year by a panel of Major League Baseball general managers and assistant general managers. Greinke earned six All-Star selections, appearing in the Midsummer Classic for the in 2009 with the Royals and for the National League in 2014 and 2015 with the Dodgers, as well as 2017, 2018, and 2019 with the Diamondbacks. These nods, voted on by players, managers, and fans, highlighted his consistent excellence during high-performance stretches, including his titles in 2009 and 2015. In 2015, he paced the National League with a 1.66 over 32 starts for the Dodgers, finishing second in voting with 10 first-place votes behind Jake Arrieta's 17, as voters weighed Arrieta's and shutout streak against Greinke's superior and . Defensively, Greinke secured six consecutive Gold Glove Awards as the National League's top-fielding pitcher from 2014 to 2019, starting with back-to-back wins for the Dodgers in 2014 and 2015 before extending the streak with the Diamondbacks through 2019. Selected by managers and coaches based on fielding metrics and range, these honors emphasized his elite footwork and error-free play, committing just three errors across those seasons while often covering ground at third base. As a hitter in the pitcher-friendly National League, Greinke won two Silver Slugger Awards, recognizing the best offensive performers at each position as voted by managers and coaches in 2013 with the Dodgers and 2019 with the Diamondbacks. In 2013, he batted .261 with three home runs in limited at-bats, outperforming peers in ; six years later, he hit .280 with four homers, earning the award despite a midseason trade to the Astros. Greinke never finished in the top five of voting in either league.

Career statistical highlights and records

Zack Greinke's major league career, spanning 2004 to 2023 across six teams, culminated in a record of 225 wins and 156 losses with a 3.49 () over 3,389.1 in 586 appearances, including 541 starts. He recorded 2,979 strikeouts, placing him 21st on the all-time list among pitchers. These figures reflect his durability and consistency as a starter, with Greinke logging at least 30 starts in 11 seasons. Among his standout achievements, Greinke captured two ERA titles, leading the in 2009 with a 2.16 mark while with the and the National League in 2015 with a 1.66 ERA during his tenure with the . These low-ERA seasons underscored his command and efficiency, contributing to his lone in 2009. Key milestones include reaching his 2,000th career strikeout on August 24, 2016, against the , fanning in a game for the Arizona Diamondbacks. He notched his 200th win on August 18, 2019, pitching seven innings of one-run ball for the Houston Astros in a 4-1 victory over the . Greinke surpassed 3,000 earlier in his career, accumulating over 3,389 by the end of 2023, a testament to his endurance. In terms of records and defensive prowess, Greinke won six consecutive Gold Glove Awards at from 2014 to 2019. As of 2025, with no official retirement announced but no appearances since 2023, he ranks among the leaders in career games started with 541. Advanced metrics further highlight his impact: his career (FIP) stands at 3.52, indicating strong performance independent of defensive support, while his total Wins Above Replacement () is 77.4, ranking him among the top pitchers historically.
CategoryCareer TotalNotes
Wins-Losses225-156.591
ERA3.49Two-time leader (2009 AL, 2015 NL)
Strikeouts2,97921st all-time
Innings Pitched3,389.1Surpassed 3,000 IP milestone
Games Started541Career total
Gold Gloves6Consecutive from 2014-2019
FIP3.52Career
WAR77.4Total, including batting contributions

Personal life

Family and relationships

Zack Greinke married Emily Kuchar, a former cheerleader and Miss Daytona Beach USA, on November 21, 2009, in a private ceremony. The couple first met while attending in , and their relationship developed over the years amid his rising baseball career. The Greinkes have three sons: Bode Nicholas, born July 23, 2015; Griffin, born June 8, 2017; and Jordy Zackary, born November 5, 2021. Bode's birth occurred during Greinke's time with the , Griffin shortly after, and Jordy during his tenure with the Houston Astros, adding to the family's dynamic amid his professional transitions. Greinke's family has provided crucial support throughout his numerous career moves across teams, including relocations from to and back to Kansas City. The family resides primarily in . has often accompanied him to public appearances and engaged in philanthropy efforts, such as supporting children's charities through their foundation, including contributions to the Boys & Girls Clubs of Metropolitan Phoenix. Their shared interests include , which Greinke pursues as a , video games for family downtime, and travels between their in and various team cities to maintain stability. This family foundation has influenced some career decisions, such as opt-outs to prioritize long-term stability.

Mental health challenges

During his early years in with the , Zack Greinke faced significant challenges, culminating in a diagnosis of and depression in 2006. The issues intensified during that year, leading him to leave the team abruptly in late February at age 22; he was subsequently placed on the restricted list in March and missed the first two months of the season while considering retirement due to overwhelming feelings of discomfort in social and professional settings. To address his condition, Greinke sought treatment from a , incorporating sessions and medication into his recovery plan. He spent several months away from , focusing on personal healing before returning to pitch in June 2006, though he appeared in only 13 games that season with limited effectiveness. By 2007 and 2008, he gradually rebuilt his performance, demonstrating resilience amid ongoing management of his symptoms. Greinke's experiences prompted him to speak openly about in 2010, sharing details of his struggles in media interviews to help destigmatize anxiety and depression within the sports community. His candidness has inspired other athletes and contributed to broader conversations on emotional well-being in . Over the long term, Greinke has sustained a Hall of Fame-caliber career despite periodic relapses, attributing his success to consistent , medication adherence, structured daily routines, and the support of his in navigating challenges.

References

  1. https://www.mlb.com/player/zack-greinke-425844
  2. https://www.espn.com/mlb/player/stats/_/id/5883/zack-greinke
  3. https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/g/greinza01.shtml
  4. https://www.kmbc.com/article/zack-greinke-first-pitch-kansas-city-royals-new-york-yankees-game-4/62572857
  5. https://www.alamy.com/after-signing-a-new-four-year-contract-with-the-kansas-city-royals-pitcher-zack-greinke-center-poses-for-a-photograph-with-from-left-his-parents-don-and-marsha-greinke-girlfriend-emily-kucher-and-his-brother-luke-greinke-far-right-following-a-press-conference-on-monday-january-26-2009-in-kansas-city-missouir-photo-by-john-sleezerkansas-city-starmctsipa-usa-image413714552.html
  6. http://baseball.playerprofiles.com/sampleplayerprofile.asp?playerid=6527
  7. https://www.milb.com/player/luke-greinke-543250
  8. https://www.mlb.com/news/greinke-hometown-apopka-hosts-play-ball-clinic/c-142485466
  9. https://www.mlb.com/news/hitting-prowess-came-first-for-dodgers-pitcher-zack-greinke/c-96675380
  10. https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/13844173/zack-greinke-masterful-season-los-angeles-dodgers-culmination-every-campaign-preceded-it
  11. https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2002/06/16/greinke-rewrites-record-book/
  12. https://playeroftheyear.gatorade.com/winner/zack-greinke/20106
  13. https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2001/06/02/3-locals-make-6a-all-state/
  14. https://www.abca.org/ABCA/ABCA/Awards/All-Americans/High_School/2002.aspx
  15. https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2001/06/12/greinke-is-a-natural-but-his-work-adds-to-baseball-skills-2/
  16. http://a.espncdn.com/mlb/news/2002/0713/1405467.html
  17. https://www.baseballamerica.com/players/4639-zack-greinke/
  18. https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=greink001don
  19. https://www.milb.com/news/gcs-7669178
  20. https://www.espn.com/mlb/news/story?id=2346107
  21. https://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/KCR/2005.shtml
  22. https://www.mlb.com/news/zack-greinke-deal-with-royals
  23. https://www.espn.com/mlb/news/story?id=5935586
  24. https://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/MIL/2011.shtml
  25. https://www.baseball-reference.com/postseason/2011_NLDS2.shtml
  26. https://www.baseball-reference.com/postseason/2011_NLCS.shtml
  27. https://www.espn.com/mlb/news/story?id=3197538
  28. https://www.espn.com/mlb/news/story?id=8201996
  29. https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/gl.fcgi?id=greinza01&t=p&year=2012
  30. https://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/LAA/2012.shtml
  31. https://www.mlb.com/news/zack-greinke-signs-with-d-backs-c158861948
  32. https://www.mlb.com/news/d-backs-zack-greinke-gets-2-000th-strikeout-c197527950
  33. https://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/ARI/2016.shtml
  34. https://www.espn.com/mlb/game/_/gameId/401075751/diamondbacks-nationals
  35. https://www.mlb.com/news/astros-zack-greinke-wins-gold-glove-in-nl
  36. https://www.cbssports.com/mlb/gametracker/recap/MLB_20190613_ARI@WAS/
  37. https://www.mlb.com/news/zack-greinke-astros-trade
  38. https://www.mlb.com/news/zack-greinke-gives-up-8-runs-in-return-from-covid
  39. https://www.mlb.com/news/zack-greinke-excited-to-return-to-royals
  40. https://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/KCR/2022.shtml
  41. https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/35558732/reports-royals-rhp-zack-greinke-agree-deal-2023
  42. https://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/KCR/2023.shtml
  43. https://www.espn.com/mlb/player/gamelog/_/id/5883/zack-greinke
  44. https://www.royalsreview.com/2023/12/12/23998802/zack-greinke-plans-to-pitch-in-2024-per-report
  45. https://kingsofkauffman.com/posts/zack-greinke-throwing-mulling-kc-royals-return
  46. https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2024/05/zack-greinke-working-out-unsure-about-continuing-playing-career.html
  47. https://www.brooksbaseball.net/landing.php?player=425844
  48. https://fivethirtyeight.com/features/zack-greinkes-8-pitch-types-keep-em-guessing/
  49. https://blogs.fangraphs.com/what-happened-to-zack-greinkes-strikeouts/
  50. https://www.azsnakepit.com/2019/7/3/20679228/appreciating-zack-greinke-pitchers-who-rake-micah-owings-kershaw-scherzer-diamondbacks
  51. https://www.baseballprospectus.com/news/article/17892/raising-aces-throwdown-zack-greinke-vs-jeremy-hellickson/
  52. https://www.crawfishboxes.com/2021/4/9/22374208/surviving-without-velocity-a-look-at-zack-greinkes-success
  53. https://grantland.com/the-triangle/mlb-zack-greinke-los-angeles-dodgers-scoreless-innings-streak/
  54. https://www.mlb.com/news/zack-greinke-wins-silver-slugger-award/c-63736844
  55. https://www.mlb.com/press-release/bregman-greinke-and-springer-win-silver-slugger-awards
  56. https://www.baseball-reference.com/leaders/fielding_perc_p_career.shtml
  57. https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/23903194/bunt-zack-greinke-one-small-skill-world-best
  58. https://www.mlb.com/news/zack-greinke-pinch-hit-single-world-series-game-5-2021
  59. https://bbwaa.com/09-al-cy/
  60. https://www.kansas.com/news/article1015080.html
  61. https://bbwaa.com/15-nl-cy/
  62. https://www.mlb.com/awards/gold-glove
  63. https://www.mlb.com/awards/silver-slugger
  64. https://www.baseball-reference.com/leaders/SO_p_career.shtml
  65. https://www.mlb.com/news/zack-greinke-reaches-200-wins
  66. https://www.baseball-almanac.com/players/awards.php?p=greinza01
  67. https://www.fangraphs.com/players/zack-greinke/1943/graphs?position=P
  68. https://www.whosdatedwho.com/dating/zack-greinke-and-emily-kuchar
  69. https://heavy.com/sports/2015/07/zack-greinke-wife-emily-kuchar-age-photos-bio-career-cowboys-cheerleader-model/
  70. https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10153497224943850&id=20278793849&set=a.10153497224978850
  71. https://www.instagram.com/p/Ctpsg08pd0W/
  72. https://www.chron.com/sports/astros/article/Zack-Greinke-Emily-wife-new-baby-Jordy-family-sons-16602684.php
  73. https://virtualglobetrotting.com/map/zack-greinkes-house/view/google/
  74. https://www.arizonafoothillsmagazine.com/the-az-insider/9622-az-insider-gala-raises-22m-for-boys-a-girls-clubs-of-phoenix.html
  75. https://www.espn.com/mlb/story?id=2383031
  76. https://www.deseret.com/2006/4/3/19946365/transactions/
  77. https://vault.si.com/vault/2010/06/21/a-light-in-the-darkness
  78. https://www.truebluela.com/2013/2/15/3992668/zack-greinke-dodgers-social-anxiety-disorder
  79. https://sports.yahoo.com/news/acknowledging-anxiety-made-greinke-torchbearer-051800413--mlb.html
  80. https://www.espn.com/los-angeles/mlb/story/_/id/8952777/zack-greinke-los-angeles-dodgers-says-problems-anxiety
  81. https://www.latimes.com/sports/la-xpm-2013-feb-15-la-sp-0216-plaschke-greinke-20130216-story.html
Add your contribution
Related Hubs
User Avatar
No comments yet.