Next pitcher to reach 300 k?

A few days ago, I listened to a podcast show. In the show, the host indicated that a pitcher struck out a lot of batters during the regular season. That pitcher is certainly a star in the majors. After listening to the show, I began to think about one thing.

 

That pitcher did punch out many batters this year. However, is it possible to see him throw 300 strikeouts in a single season? To solve my doubts, I decided to check on the great baseball reference website.

 

Firstly, let’s take a look at which pitchers did throw 300+ strikeouts in a single season over the last several seasons. In 2015, Clayton Kershaw threw 301 strikeouts. Back then, Kershaw made 33 starts and tossed 232.2 innings. His SO/9 was 11.6. Additionally, his strikeout rate was 33.8%.

 

In 2017, Chris Sale made 32 starts for the Red Sox. He threw 214.1 innings with 308 strikeouts. In that season, his SO/9 was 12.9 and he had a 36.2% strikeout rate. The next season, Max Scherzer did it. He made 33 starts and tossed 220.2 innings. Scherzer struck out 300 batters in 2018. Back then, his strikeout rate was 34.6% and his SO/9 was 12.2.

 

In 2019, 2 pitchers from the Astros threw at least 300 strikeouts in that season. Gerrit Cole made 33 starts for the Astros, throwing 326 strikeouts over 212.1 innings. Cole finished the season with a 39.9% strikeout rate and his SO/9 was 13.8. At the same time, Justin Verlander threw 300 strikeouts. He made 34 starts and tossed 223 innings. In 2019, Verlander’s SO/9 was 12.1 and his strikeout rate was 35.4%.

 

From 2020 to 2025, no pitchers reached 300 strikeouts in a single season. Looking back at the pitchers who threw 300+ strikeouts from 2015 to 2019, Clayton Kershaw threw the most innings. He tossed 232.2 innings. His strikeout rate was below 34% and his SO/9 was below 12. Moreover, Max Scherzer and Justin Verlander each used 220+ innings to reach 300 strikeouts. And they each owned a strikeout rate over 34% and a SO/9 over 12.

 

As such, to reach 300 strikeouts in a single season, a pitcher had better throw at least 220 innings with a SO/9 over 12. And when we look at the pitcher usage these seasons, things might be quite interesting.

 

In 2025, only 3 pitchers threw 200+ innings. They are Logan Webb (207 innings), Garrett Crochet (205.1 innings) and Cristopher Sanchez (202 innings). Among them, Crochet is the only with 250+ strikeouts and his K.9 WAS 11.18. Additionally, no qualified pitchers had a SO/9 of 12 or higher in 2025. Furthermore, only 2 qualified pitchers had a strikeout rate over 30% in 2025. They are Tarik Skubal and Garrett Crochet. Nonetheless, they each had a K% below 33%. And looking back at 2024, 4 pitchers each threw at least 200 innings, but none of them reached 210 innings. And no pitchers threw at least 250 strikeouts in 2024. From 2021 to 2023, only 2 pitchers threw more than 250 strikeouts in a single season. Spencer Strider threw 281 strikeouts in 2023. Gerrit Cole struck out 257 batters in 2022.

 

As we look back at these seasons, it seems that there are fewer pitchers to even reach 250 strikeouts in a single season. Perhaps, the rules change truly changes today’s games and there are really more balls in play. And the next pitcher to reach 300 strikeouts in a single season? Well, perhaps, a healthy Gerrit Cole can do it again? Spencer Strider hasn’t reached 200 innings in a single season so far in his career. Maybe he can do it if he throws 200+ innings? How about southpaws, Skubal, Crochet or others?