Michael Wacha

Wacha's uncle, Dusty Rogers, pitched in the Cincinnati Reds organization from 1984 through 1988.

Wacha attended Pleasant Grove High School in Texarkana, Texas, where he played for the school's baseball and basketball teams.

As a basketball player, he lettered three years as a forward and was chosen for the first-team all-district on his way to advancing his school to the regional finals during his senior year.

In his junior baseball season, Wacha posted a 16–3 win–loss record, pitching the Hawks to the state finals.

Michael Joseph Wacha (born July 1, 1991) is an American professional baseball pitcher for the Kansas City Royals of Major League Baseball (MLB).

He has previously played in MLB for the St. Louis Cardinals, New York Mets, Tampa Bay Rays, Boston Red Sox, and San Diego Padres.

He played college baseball for the Texas A&M Aggies.

As a senior, he led the Hawks to the state semi-finals in his senior year in 2009 with a 6–3 win–loss record). Wacha was a two-time all-state selection; he was selected to the all-state first-team and all-state tournament team. Excelling academically, Wacha was a member of the National Honor Society; in basketball, Wacha earned first-team academic all-state honors.

As an enrollee at Texas A&M University, Wacha played three years of college baseball for the Texas A&M Aggies.

At this point, Wacha stood 6ft 5in tall, weighed 180 lb, and threw his fastball with a velocity between 84 mph and 88 mph. During his freshman campaign, he made ten starts in 25 total appearances and posted a 2.90 earned run average and a 9–2 record.

Wacha also registered 97 strikeouts and 22 walks in 105 1⁄3 innings pitched.

His nine wins ranked fifth and 2.90 earned run average was sixth in the Big 12 Conference.

For his performance, Louisville Slugger named Wacha a freshman All-American.

In his sophomore year, Wacha posted a 9–4 record in 16 starts with 123 strikeouts and just 20 walks and a 2.29 earned run average in 129 2⁄3 innings pitched.

His performance earned him a spot as a Third Team All-American and All-Big 12 Second Team.

Wacha was a member of the USA Baseball Collegiate National Team.

He also pitched in the Big 12 Championship, NCAA College Station Regional, and College World Series at the end of his sophomore year.

The Cardinals selected Wacha in the first round of the 2012 MLB draft out of Texas A&M.

The Cardinals selected Wacha in the first round with the 19th overall selection of the 2012 Major League Baseball draft and signed him for $1.9 million on June 14, 2012.

His draft slot originally belonged to the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, who, upon signing Albert Pujols as a free agent, surrendered it to the Cardinals.

Cardinals director of scouting Dan Kantrovitz foresaw Wacha as a future starter for the Cardinals whose size and competitive nature drew favorable comparisons with right-handers Chris Carpenter and Adam Wainwright.

Wacha ascended quickly through the minor leagues.

The Cardinals first assigned Wacha to the Gulf Coast League (Rookie League) Cardinals, then promoted him to the Palm Beach Cardinals in the Florida State League and finally to the Springfield Cardinals of the Double-A Texas League before the 2012 season ended.

In 21 innings pitched between the three levels, he struck out 40 batters, allowed just eight hits, four walks, and two runs (a 0.86 earned run average).

With Springfield, he pitched eight innings, struck out 17 batters, and allowed just one home run.

After one year in the minor leagues, he made his major league debut on May 30, 2013.

Following a strong regular season, Wacha earned the 2013 National League Championship Series Most Valuable Player Award, after yielding one run and eight hits in his first 21 postseason innings pitched.

Michael Wacha was born in Iowa City, Iowa, to Tom and Karen Wacha as the second of four children.

He has one older brother, Charlie, one younger brother, Lucas and a younger sister, Brette.

He grew up a Chicago Cubs fan.

When Wacha was three years old, his family moved from Iowa City to Texarkana, Texas.

His future college coach, Rob Childress, first spotted Wacha pitching in an American Legion game; Wacha's father was the coach and his sister the batgirl.

The Cardinals invited Wacha to their major league spring training camp in 2013.

He impressed team management and players alike, striking out 15 batters while only allowing one walk and one unearned run in 11 2⁄3 innings of work before being reassigned to the minor league camp.

Wacha started the 2013 season with the Memphis Redbirds of the Class AAA Pacific Coast League, going 4–0 with a league-leading 2.05 earned run average in nine games started and 52 2⁄3 innings pitched before his first call-up to the major leagues.

His overall season totals at Memphis included a 2.65 earned run average in 15 starts, 73 strikeouts and 85 innings pitched.

The Cardinals activated Wacha on May 30 to make his major league debut against the Kansas City Royals at Busch Stadium.

He was 4–0 with a 2.05 earned run average in nine starts for Memphis prior to his call up.

Just 364 days after throwing his last pitch for Texas A&M, Wacha was standing on a major league mound for the first time.

In his first at-bat in the majors, Wacha singled to right-center field.