Lance Lynn

At 36 years old, Lance Lynn has this physical status:

Michael Lance Lynn (born May 12, 1987) is an American professional baseball pitcher for the Texas Rangers of Major League Baseball (MLB).

He has appeared for the St. Louis Cardinals, Minnesota Twins, and New York Yankees. Lynn, who played college baseball for the Ole Miss Rebels, set the school's single-season (146) and career (332) pitching strikeout records.

In the first round of the 2008 MLB Draft from the University of Mississippi, the Cardinals selected him.

After playing in three seasons and totaling a 2.85 earned run average and 124 strikeouts in 149 2/3 innings pitched, he was named the Cardinals organizational Pitcher of the Year in 2009.

He made his MLB debut on June 2, 2011, was a member of the Cardinals' World Series championship team that year and a National League All-Star in 2012. Lynn played his first complete game and shutout on May 27, 2014, his first career complete game and shutout.

He took his 500th strikeout in his career three weeks later and his 50th victory in his career came on April 15, 2015.

With 8.7, he was the Cardinals' all-time franchise leader in strikeouts per 9 innings pitched through 2015.

Lynn skipped the entire 2016 season after recovering from Tommy John surgery.

Personal life

Lynn is 6 foot 5 inches (1.96 m) tall and weighs 275 pounds (125 kg). Lauren (Grill) Lynn, a softball player at the University of Mississippi, married him in November 2010. They have since divorced. They have one daughter together. Lynn married Dymin Hayes in January 2020 and the two children were born together. They live in Brentwood, Tennessee.

Lynn has suffered with weight issues throughout his life, which has affected his fitness. The better shape he has been in, the longer he can play in workouts, and therefore, the longer he'll be able to pitch in single games and the entire season. He spoke with Chris Carpenter, Wainwright, and Jake Westbrook of the Arizona Cardinals about their in-season and off-season preparations methods in the 2012–13 offseason. Pete Prinzi, a head coach and conditioning coach, aided him in designing an offseason training program to fix his weaknesses and promote weight loss. In addition, the Cardinals sent team chef Lusky to spend a week with Lynn and his wife Lauren in their home, where he taught them how to choose and prepare healthy food. Lynn also added more water and vodka to her favorite pizza and beer recipes.

Lynn acknowledged in 2014 how not handling his emotions during difficult innings reduced his ability to minimize injury and finish off hitters with runners on base. He has chafed at defensive gaffes and organizational shifts, which he did not understand. He had trouble getting his catchers to call pitches, particularly Yadier Molina, who is well-known for his game-calling abilities. However, teammates and Cardinals officials noticed that he became more open to changing his tactics and, consequently, outcomes.

Lynn grew up to be a New York Yankees fan.

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Early life and amateur career

Lynn was born in Indianapolis, Indiana, on May 12, 1987, to Mike and Jenny Lynn. In the 1999 Little League World Series, he was a member of the Brownsburg, Indiana, Little League. In Williamsport, Pennsylvania, Brownsburg captured the Central Regional Championship. He played for Brownsburg High School, where he also played on the baseball team. Drew Storen, a fellow future major league pitcher, was a student at the University of Brownsburg. Lynn spent All-State honors in his sophomore and junior years.

Lynn batted in in.509 as a junior, with 14 home runs and 46 runs batted in (RBIs). In 100 innings pitched (IP), a 10–3 win-loss record and three saves, he earned 2.26 earned run average (ERA) and 160 strikeouts (SO) as a pitcher. His team lost the 4A state championship by 36-0 last year. He hit.400 with 14 home runs in 2014; his ERA was 0.71 and his record was 16–0.

Lynn's cumulative batting average and 92 RBIs were compiled for a.473 average and 92 RBIs at Brownsburg. His career started with a 39–4 record, 1.10 ERA, seven saves, and 455 strikeouts in 288 IP. Lynn was named Gatorade Player of the Year in 2005 for the state of Indiana. He was also a Louisville Slugger and Electronic Arts All-America pick. When Lynn competed in the Area Code Games, Nike named him an All-Star, and he was teammates with future Ole Miss Rebels baseball signee Evan Button and Scott Van Slyke.

Lynn was selected by the Seattle Mariners in the sixth round of the MLB draft in June 2005, but he did not sign. He instead opted to attend the University of Mississippi to play college baseball for the Ole Miss Rebels. He set the Ole Miss single season (146) and career (332) strikeout records in 2007. In 2007, and 2008, he was named as a second-team pitcher in the All-Southeastern Conference. With a 3.95 ERA, his overall college record was 22–12.

Professional career

Lynn was selected in the first round of the 2008 MLB draft by the St. Louis Cardinals, who had the 39th overall pick.

Lynn was named Cardinals' organizational Pitcher of the Year in 2009, after bouncing three levels in his first full professional season. The Triple-A Memphis Redbirds of the Pacific Coast League was his year's start for the year (PCL). In 148+213 innings, he had a 2.85 ERA and 124 strikeouts. In 2010-2012, he led all Cardinals minor league pitchers in strikeouts from 2009–10 (141 in 2010).

Lynn was second in all minor leagues with 164 innings pitched and 13 wins, and ninth with 7.74 strikeouts per 9 innings pitched in 2010 (K/9). In addition,, he was a leader in strikeouts and games, and he was second in fifth place in 2010 when the PCL got off to a winning streak. Lynn set a single-game franchise strikeout record against the Oklahoma City RedHawks in a playoff game on September 10, 2010. It was also the best strikeout effort in all the minor leagues this year.

Lynn was activated on the team's 40 man roster and activated on June 2, 2011. He made his MLB debut against the San Francisco Giants on Saturday night. Lynn retired with 41 strikeouts in 34+1/3 innings with the Cardinals in the regular season, while still allowing 25 hits and 11 walks. Before a surprise appearance in the postseason, a pulled flank muscle had prevented him from playing in a game until he was unable to return to action. Lynn was awarded the victory after tossing just one pitch against the Milwaukee Brewers in Game 2 of the National League Championship Series (NLCS). Lynn gave up back-to-back home runs in the seventh to Adrián Beltré and Nelson Cruz in the World Series. Nevertheless, he won the World Series with the Cardinals, making a total of ten appearances in the postseason after appearing in only 18 games during the 2011 regular season.

Lynn revealed that he would start wearing the number 31 after arriving in Cardinals spring training in February 2012. Lynn replaced Chris Carpenter in the rotation early in the season after he went on the injured list (DL). He started strong, winning his first six games with a ERA of 1.40. He had one of his best games against the Chicago White Sox on June 13. He took out a career-high 12 batters and gave up only three hits in 7+13 innings, making him the youngest in the series. His ERA was reduced to 2.42 years old as a result of his effort. He was also the second player to win ten games behind R. A. Dickey.

Lynn had a 3.41 ERA and 11–4 record in 17 starts in his first half. He was then selected to his first All-Star Game. However, he scuffled with a 5.23 ERA in his next eight starts, and was barred from the rotation. Joe Kelly was brought into the rotation to replace him. He was 13-05 with a 3.93 ERA in his first 25 starts. His August ERA soared to 6.66 and his second-half ERA was 4.32. Lynn attributed his inconsistency to weight gain and poor conditioning. He had an 18–7 record and 180 strikeouts, 3.78 ERA in 35 games, 29 starts, and 176 innings during the regular season. His 9.2 K/9 percentage was his fourth in franchise history. He came in second in the NL in wins, seventh in winning percentage, and fourth in K/9. Lynn was restored to the rotation in the NLDS against the Washington Nationals after the club moved Jaime Garca to the DL due to a rotator cuff injury. In the NLCS, he was the Game 5 starter against the San Francisco Giants, in which the Cardinals held a 3–1 series lead. However, as the Cardinals later lost the series, he gave up four runs in 3+2/3 innings.

In 2013, the right-hander began to change his eating and conditioning habits to reach 200 innings. He arrived at ST weighing 239 pounds, almost 41 pounds lighter than his last appearance in the 2012 NLCS. As a result, his coworkers blasted him with quips, such as, "Where's your other half?" "Who's the new guy?" Adam Wainwright says. Two others disagreed with the others. He hit 201+2 2/3 innings, was 15-ten with 198 strikeouts and 3.97 ERA, beating him to his season high of 200 innings pitched. In the second half of the season, his ERA stayed steady: 4.00 in the first half, 3.93 in the second. In September, he lowered his ERA to 2.12. His win total stood sixth in the Netherlands, with strikeouts ninth in the ninth century and 33 starts second.

Lynn reduced the amount of refined carbohydrates and fats in his diet on the team's recommendation. He had a much slimmer appearance at 2014 ST. Lynn left ten Atlanta Braves in four innings, including the final eight hitters he faced in a ST game on March 14. The Milwaukee Brewers' nine-game winning streak came to an end on April 14 after Lynn's seven scoreless innings. Lynn, who had been playing with a 6.55 ERA on the season, made his third decision after 11 strikeouts and just three hits allowed as St. Louis defeated 4–0. On April 19, he stroked his first base hit – an RBI double – while still deciding on the win in a 4–3 victory.

Lynn played his first complete game against the New York Yankees on May 27, a shutout. Lynn pitched five strong innings in his 100th appearance in the MLB and another against the Nationals on Friday, June 13, a one-0 win over Jordan Zimmermann in his 100th appearance in his career and another against the Nationals. In a 3–2 loss to the New York Mets five days later, he reached his 500th career strikeout with a team of 503. In an 8–0 victory over Coors Field on June 23, Lynn pitched another eight shutout innings while only allowing just three hits. In 2014, the Cardinals made the playoffs again, and Lynn and the Dodgers shared one game each in the NLDS against the Dodgers and in the NLCS against the Giants. In 11+2/3 innings, he had a 3.08 ERA with 11 strikeouts.

Lynn and the Cardinals decided to a three-year, $22 million contract on January 15, 2015. Arbitration-eligible for the first time in his career, Lynn and the Cardinals agreed to a three-year, $22 million contract. It took out his three remaining years before the free agency was established, as well as up to an additional $1.5 million in performance compensation. In the National League, only Wainwright (53) and Clayton Kershaw (51) have won more than half of the season (48%). Lynn had a 3.48 ERA and 1.300 WHIP over 95 starts in that time.

Lynn won his 50th game in a 4–2 win over Milwaukee on April 15, 2015. He was getting his 99th birthday in his career. It was his 13th victory in the month of April since 2012, his highest total figure in MLB. He was 4–4 with a 3.07 ERA in his first 12 starts of the season. However, he sustained a right forearm strain after his June 7 start against the Dodgers. On June 12, the Cardinals put him on the DL. On June 24, Lynn returned from the DL. In a 5–1 victory, he returned to action against the Miami Marlins by pitching six scoreless innings.

Lynn was down two runs while still allowing seven runs total, three earned, a home run, and six hits in a 10–5 loss to the Pirates on August 13, 2015. It was the shortest outing of his career as a starter, as well as the quickest departure for a Cardinals starter since Anthony Reyes on October 1, 2006, owing to something other than injury. Lynn started eight games with an 8-07 record, 3.00 ERA, and 102 innings, but made it to seven innings just once in his last six games of the season.

In 175+13 innings, he posted a 12-11 record and 3.03 ERA for the 2015 season. He led all major league pitchers in fastball percentages (85.4%). He had a.248 batting average against, and was the Cardinals' all-time franchise leader with 8.7 K/9 among all players with at least 500 innings pitched for the club during his career.

Lynn will miss the 2016 season after undergoing Tommy John surgery (TJS), according to the Cardinals on November 10, 2015. On August 15, 2016, he began a rehab stint with the Palm Beach Cardinals, pitching 1+231 runs.

Lynn joined the Cardinals' starting lineup in 2017 and ended the season with an 11–8 record and a 3.43 ERA. He led the major leagues in holding opposing batters to their lowest batting average on balls in play (.244). He also led all major league pitchers in fastball percentage (81.1%). Lynn became a free agent for the first time in his career after the season.

Lynn signed a one-year, $12 million deal with the Minnesota Twins on March 12, 2018. In his Minnesota debut, he struggled, giving up five earned runs in the first inning and walking six in four innings against the Pittsburgh Pirates, losing by 5–4. He had an ERA of 5.94 during the first two months of the season.

In exchange for Tyler Austin and Luis Rijo, the Twins traded Lynn and cash considerations to the New York Yankees on July 30, 2018. He was inserted as a long-server but was then rotated to their starting lineup to replace Sonny Gray, who was suffering.

Lynn signed a three-year deal with the Texas Rangers on December 18, 2018.

Lynn dominated the field in 2019 with a 3.67 ERA and 246 strikeouts over 208+13 innings. With 18 pitches, he led baseball in wild pitches. In the 2019 AL Cy Young Award nominations, Lynn placed 5th.

Lynn won his 100th MLB game against the Los Angeles Angels on August 9, 2020. Lynn had a 6-3 record and a 3.32 ERA with 89 strikeouts in 84.0 innings of work.

Lynn was traded to the Chicago White Sox in exchange for pitcher Dane Dunning and prospect Avery Weems. Lynn was named an All-Star during the 2021 season with a 9-3 record and 1.99 ERA in 16 starts. Lynn signed a two-year, $38 million contract extension with Chicago that also included a club option on July 17, 2021. Lynn was the starting pitcher for the first Field of Dreams game in Dyersville, Iowa, on August 12. The White Sox beat the Yankees 9-8, Lynn going 5 innings, giving up four hits, 4 runs, and 2 walks while striking out 7 batters. Lynn had 28 starts in 2021, with a ERA of 2.69 and an 11-6 record. He played in 157 innings and knocked out 176 batters. Lynn started Game 1 against the Houston Astros in the ALDS but faltered. Lynn went 2.2 more innings giving up 5 runs while striking out only 3 more batters after a 1-2-3 lead. Lynn placed third in Cy Young Award voting behind Gerrit Cole and Robbie Ray.

Lynn came off the Injured List in 2022 after suffering a meniscus tear in spring training. Lynn was born off the IL on June 13. Lynn got off to a promising start against the Detroit Tigers on the same day. Lynn and White Sox third base coach Joe McEwing got into an altercation in the dugout after the 2nd inning game. Lynn was thrown out of contention after the game's third earned run. Lynn went the next 2.1 innings without losing a single run after his dispute with McEwing. Lynn went 4.1 innings giving up 10 runs and three earned runs while striking out four batters as the White Sox defeated 5–5.

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Awards

• Reference for this list