Max Scherzer Snags Jersey Number of Texas Rangers Pitching Coach

A prized prospect wasn’t all that was given up when the Texas Rangers traded for Max Scherzer.

His old pitching coach had a make a concession, too. Mike Maddux literally gave Scherzer the jersey off his back.

Scherzer officially joined the Rangers roster on Tuesday and was issued No. 31. That number had been assigned to Maddux, who gladly gave it up as new uniforms were issued for the three new pitchers acquired by trade over the weekend.

In addition to Scherzer, Jordan Montgomery was given No. 52 and Chris Stratton is No. 35. Montgomery and Stratton were acquired from the St. Louis Cardinals in a five-player deal.

Scherzer is expected to make his Texas debut on Thursday in the series finale with the Chicago White Sox. The three-game set opens Tuesday night at 7:05 p.m. at Globe Life Field, with Andrew Heaney starting for the Rangers.

Scherzer went back to No. 31 after wearing No. 21 with the New York Mets. The three-time Cy Young Award winner also wore No. 31 with the Los Angeles Dodgers and Washington Nationals, where his pitching coach for two years was Maddux. Scherzer and Maddux won two Cy Youngs together in D.C.

Maddux is now in No. 41. It’s a number he never donned in 15 years as a player with nine different teams. He did wear No. 31 with the Rangers as a pitching coach from 2009-15.

No word if money changed hands in the jersey switch. Scherzer, in the midst of a $130-million contract, can probably spare a few bucks.

The Rangers have announced uniform number assignments for the club's three new players as well as a change for a member of the coaching staff.

31 – RHP Max Scherzer
35 – RHP Chris Stratton
41 – Pitching coach Mike Maddux
52 – LHP Jordan Montgomery
— Texas Rangers PR (@TXRangersPR) July 31, 2023

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