Zack Greinke: A Sure Hall of Famer and Baseball Unicorn

Zack Greinke's professional baseball career is a fascinating subject, especially concerning his love for guacamole and Chipotle (Or not so much anymore). He is an outstanding player with an eccentric personality who possesses an array of impressive pitching skills. His career batting average is remarkable, and his consistency has helped his teams achieve success. This article will showcase his unique pitching style, exceptional hitting abilities, and unusual stories that have made him stand out from other players. By examining these aspects of Greinke's career, we hope to demonstrate why we believe that his chances of being inducted into the Hall of Fame are high.

1. Back of The Baseball Card

The Trophy Case (World Series, Cy Young, Silver Sluggers, Stat leader)

Zack Greinke is a highly accomplished baseball pitcher who has amassed an impressive array of accolades throughout his career. In 2009, Greinke claimed the American League Cy Young award while playing for the Royals, leading the league in ERA. He also came in second in the National League Cy Young voting in 2015 (many argue he deserved first place) after leading the league in WAR, ERA+, and WHIP. Greinke is widely regarded as one of the best pitchers in the game, with a unique pitching style that sets him apart from his peers. In addition to his pitching prowess, Greinke has also won numerous awards, including six All-Star selections, two Silver Slugger awards, and six Gold Glove awards.

For The Nerds

Zack Greinke is a name that echoes throughout baseball history, and for good reason. With a career spanning over 19 years, (including Kansas City Royals, Milwaukee Brewers, Los Angeles Angels, Los Angeles Dodgers, Arizona Diamondbacks, Houston Astros) Greinke's accomplishments have solidified his place among the all-time greats. His impressive statistics speak volumes, with a career ERA of 3.42, over 2,886 strikeouts, and 3250 innings pitched. He is one good season away from 3,000 career strikeouts. Additionally, Greinke boasts a win-loss record of 223-142, making him a consistent and reliable player for any team. For those who crave in-depth stats, Greinke's career WAR of 71.4, 3.46 FIP, and nearly 4 SO/W rate prove his excellence on the field. As a two-way player, Greinke's unique pitching style and hitting abilities have also made him stand out as one of the best in the game. From his pitch arsenal to his approach to hitting, there is much to learn from this Hall of Famer.

2. Unicorn Arsenal.

Greinke's Eephus

Zack Greinke is a renowned baseball pitcher who has made a significant impact on the game. One of the most striking features of his pitching style is his effective use of the eephus pitch. This slow, looping pitch is deceptive, catching many batters off guard, and has become a signature move of his pitch arsenal. With a great degree of mastery over the eephus pitch, Greinke often employs it to his advantage in games. Scroll down to see a video featuring his mythical 54 mph lob.

Adjusting to loss of velocity

Zack used to rely heavily on his strong fastball which could reach 95-96 MPH. However, over time his fastball's speed decreased due to aging. Despite this, he adapted his game and now has a unique pitching style with a wide range of pitches, varying from 71.5 to 88.5 MPH (and even a few Eephus pitches). Greinke has proven to be more than just a power pitcher, also showcasing precision in hitting his spots and deceiving hitters with a variety of pitches. As a result, he is considered one of the best 2-way players in baseball and has contributed greatly to his team's World Series success.

3. Greinke may be the best 2-way player

Zack’s Boomstick

Greinke's talent isn't limited to pitching, as he has proven to be an exceptional hitter as well. With a career batting average of .225 and 117 hits, including 9 home runs, he has become one of the few pitchers to produce an offensive WAR of 5+. These hitting statistics may not seem impressive, but they certainly add to his accomplishments as a unique two-way player in baseball.

Now that the Designated Hitter is now permanently in place, we probably will not get to see Greinke at the plate again :(

Zack Greinke's Confident Claim

In 2005, during his first full season in the majors, Greinke's team, the Kansas City Royals, suffered 106 losses. A victim of the team's poor performance, Greinke stood out as responsible for 17 of those losses on the mound. During a meeting with the team's GM and manager, Greinke boldly claimed that hitting wasn't that hard. He was given the chance to prove himself during a game in Arizona, where he hit a home run in his first at-bat. Greinke has since earned the Silver Slugger award twice, in 2013 and 2019, cementing his reputation as one of the best two-way players in baseball.

4. He Is Always Himself

Greinke taking a seat on the field

After tossing a 54 mph pitch, Greinke then needed the mound to be repaired. So while the crew took care of business Greinke just lounged on the infield grass and admired their work. Once the mound was all fixed Greinke popped back up and got back to work. (Check out the video below)

MLB Video Show what most fans would recognize as “Greinke Being Greinke”

Zack Greinke's Reaction to His Promotion to the Majors

Mike Jirschele managed the Omaha Storm Chasers, Triple-A affiliates for the Kansas City Royals. In 2004, he informed a 20-year-old Greinke that he was being promoted to the majors. Greinke expressed interest in playing shortstop but it is unclear if he was serious or not. He did ask to be sent back down to High-A and have a shot at becoming a shortstop because he believes he could do that just as well as he pitches. If he was right image how great of a shortstop Zack would have become.

Conclusion:

Zack Greinke is a one-of-a-kind player in Major League Baseball who has carved out an impressive career thanks to his exceptional pitch arsenal, precision, and deception. His career statistics and consistent team success are testaments to his ability to contribute both on the mound and at the plate. Greinke's use of the eephus pitch and his adaptability to changes in the game, such as a decline in fastball velocity, set him apart from other players. He has earned numerous accolades, including a World Series championship, multiple Cy Young awards, and Silver Slugger and Gold Glove awards, which demonstrate his undeniable talent and consistency. It is no wonder he is considered a gem in the baseball world, and his rare set of talents is something that baseball enthusiasts can appreciate.

FAQ

Q. How many Cy Young awards has Greinke won?

A. Greinke has won one American League Cy Young award in 2009 and finished second in National League Cy Young voting in 2015.

Q. What is Greinke's career ERA?

A. Greinke's career ERA is 3.42.

Q. How does Greinke's hitting compare to other pitchers?

A. Greinke's hitting statistics are exceptional for a pitcher, with a career batting average of .225, 117 hits, and 9 home runs. He has also won two Silver Slugger awards.

Q. What is the eephus pitch?

A. The eephus pitch is a slow, looping pitch that has a deceptive quality that often catches batters off guard. Greinke has mastered this pitch and uses it to his advantage in games.

Q. What other unique stories are there about Greinke?

A. Some other fun stories about Greinke include, him having public beef against chipotle for raising their cost of Guacamole by $0.30 at the time he was getting paid over $6 million a season.

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The statistical information presented in this article was gathered from reputable sources such as Baseballsavant.com, Fangraphs.com, and Baseball-reference.com. These sites offer comprehensive data on various aspects of the game and are trusted by baseball enthusiasts and analysts alike.