Mike Maroth

Lore & Background

Maroth was a third-round pick in the 1998 draft and spent his first two professional seasons with the Single-A Sarasota Red Sox. Before the 2000 season, he was traded to the Detroit Tigers organization for relief pitcher Bryce Florie. He worked his way up to the Triple-A Toledo Mud Hens by 2001 and was made a starter for the Tigers on June 8, 2002. In 2003, he lost 21 games, the first pitcher to lose 20 or more in a season since Brian Kingman lost 20 for the Oakland Athletics in 1980. He remains the most recent pitcher to lose 20 or more games in a season as of 2025. Maroth also pitched for the St. Louis Cardinals, Kansas City Royals (minor league), Toronto Blue Jays (minor league), and Minnesota Twins (minor league) before retiring on January 25, 2011.

Reader's Guide

Maroth was not an overpowering pitcher, averaging under 85 MPH on his fastball. He also threw an 82 MPH cutter. His offspeed pitches were a slider, curveball, and changeup.

Did You Know?

• Maroth led the Tigers in wins (9) and win–loss percentage (.300) in 2003 while the team set the American League record of 119 losses.
• He pitched a one-hit complete game shutout against the New York Yankees in July 2004, losing his no-hit bid in the fourth inning to future teammate Gary Sheffield.
• Maroth was named pitching coach for his alma mater, the UCF Knights, for the 2023 season but did not return in 2024 after the firing of head coach Greg Lovelady.