MLB: Will We Ever See Another Pitcher Reach 3,000 Strikeouts?

The strikeout is the holy grail for pitchers in Major League Baseball, and amassing 3,000 in a career provides a shot at immortality. Are there any guys on the bump in MLB today that have a shot of reaching the milestone?

There are only 16 pitchers in big league history to strike out 3,000 or more batters in their career, making it an even more elusive feat than reaching 300 career wins. In fact, until 1974, only one man had reached the 3,000 strikeout plateau, the legendary Walter Johnson. That’s more than 50 years of hurlers falling short, including all-time greats like Christy Mathewson, Bob Feller, Warren Spahn and Sandy Koufax.

Much like getting to 300 wins, racking up 3,000 strikeouts requires a pitcher to not only have great pure stuff, but also to stay healthy over the course of a long career and have a little luck on his side. Only three of the pitchers in the club currently played fewer than 20 seasons, with Bob Gibson the low man at 17.

Just two of the club’s members have not been enshrined in the Hall of Fame (Roger Clemens and Curt Schilling), but that’s a debate for another day. In 2015, Cooperstown welcomed the last man to do it, John Smoltz, as well as two others in Pedro Martinez and Randy Johnson. A full list of the 3,000 K club, as well those who came up just short, can be found here.

With flame throwers the league over stealing headlines on a nightly basis in MLB, we here at Call to the Pen wondered who the next 3,000 K pitcher might end up being. Using the Bill James Favorite Toy formula, there are a few pitchers in the big leagues right now who at the very least stand a shot at reaching the milestone. Let’s take a look at who they are.

Next: It’s not looking good for these guys.