Michael Lorenzen

1. Michael Lorenzen: A Brief Overview

Michael Lorenzen is an American professional baseball pitcher for the Cincinnati Reds of Major League Baseball (MLB). He was drafted by the Reds in the first round of the 2013 Major League Baseball Draft out of Cal State Fullerton.

Lorenzen made his MLB debut in 2015. He finished the season with a 5-3 record and a 4.63 ERA in 50 games pitched. In 2016, Lorenzen was moved to the Reds’ starting rotation. He made 17 starts, compiling a 5-5 record and a 4.45 ERA. He was moved back to the bullpen in 2017 and finished the year with a 2-2 record, a 3.70 ERA, and one save in 54 games pitched.

2. Lorenzen’s Early Life and Career

Michael Lorenzen was born in Anaheim, California, on April 10, 1992. He was drafted by the Cincinnati Reds in the first round of the 2013 Major League Baseball Draft out of Cal State Fullerton.

Lorenzen made his professional debut with the Billings Mustangs of the Rookie-level Pioneer League in 2013. He was promoted to the Dayton Dragons of the Class A Midwest League in 2014. He began the 2015 season with the Bakersfield Blaze of the Class A-Advanced California League.

Lorenzen made his major league debut on April 12, 2015, pitching a scoreless ninth inning against the Pittsburgh Pirates. He pitched in relief for the Reds for most of the 2015 season, compiling a 3-1 record with a 5.40 earned run average (ERA) and one save in 31 games.

Lorenzen began the 2016 season in the Reds’ bullpen but was moved to the starting rotation in May. He made his first career start on May 28 against the Atlanta Braves, pitching five innings and allowing four runs. He finished the 2016 season with a 5-4 record and a 4.45 ERA in 19 games (nine starts).

Lorenzen had a breakout season in 2017, pitching to a 3.11 ERA and striking out 103 batters in 77 innings pitched. He also hit seven home runs, the most by a pitcher in a single season since 1936.

Lorenzen continued to pitch well in 2018, posting a 3.11 ERA in 73 innings pitched. He also hit five home runs, setting a new single-season record for pitchers.

Lorenzen had another strong season in 2019, pitching to a 2.92 ERA and striking out 100 batters in 73 innings pitched. He also hit four home runs, setting a new single-season record for pitchers.

Lorenzen is currently signed to a one-year, $5 million contract with the Reds. He is eligible for free agency after the 2021 season.

3. Lorenzen’s Time with the Reds

It’s been a busy few weeks for Michael Lorenzen. The Reds reliever was traded to the club on July 31st, just in time for the waiver deadline. He then had to report to spring training to get ready for his new team.

Now, Lorenzen is getting his first taste of big-league action with the Reds. And so far, he’s loving every minute of it.

“It’s been great,” Lorenzen said of his time with the Reds. “The guys have been great, the coaching staff has been great. I feel like I fit in here really well.”

Lorenzen is no stranger to the big leagues, having made 31 appearances with the Angels last season. But he’s still adjusting to life in the National League.

“It’s different, obviously,” Lorenzen said of the NL. “The game is a little bit different. But I’m just trying to go out there and pitch, and do my job.”

So far, Lorenzen has done just that. He’s appeared in four games for the Reds, pitching six innings of scoreless relief. He’s allowed just three hits and one walk while striking out seven.

Lorenzen is still getting acclimated to his new surroundings, but he’s already making a positive impression on his new teammates.

“He’s been great,” said Reds pitcher Scott Feldman. “He’s come in and thrown the ball well. He’s got a good arm, he’s got good stuff. He’s been a nice addition.”

The Reds are hopeful that Lorenzen can continue to pitch well in the second half of the season, and solidify the back end of their bullpen. If he can do that, it will go a long way toward helping the Reds make a push for the playoffs.

4. Lorenzen’s 2017 Season

The 2017 season was a special one for Reds reliever Michael Lorenzen. Not only did he play a key role in helping the team to a playoff berth, but he also became the first player in MLB history to pitch and hit in the same game.

Lorenzen was drafted by the Reds in the first round of the 2013 draft and made his MLB debut in 2015. He quickly became a key member of the Reds bullpen, appearing in a career-high 73 games in 2017.

Lorenzen was used primarily as a setup man in 2017, but he was also called upon to pitch in some high-leverage situations. He responded well, posting a 2.92 ERA and 1.15 WHIP.

Lorenzen was also used as a pinch-hitter on occasion, and he made the most of his opportunities, batting .333/.400/.667 with two home runs and five RBI.

On September 26, 2017, Lorenzen made history by becoming the first player ever to pitch and hit in the same game. He came on in relief in the bottom of the seventh inning and then stayed in the game to hit in the top of the eighth. He singled in his only at-bat.

Lorenzen continued to pitch well in the playoffs, helping the Reds to a surprising win over the Dodgers in the NLDS. He pitched in two games in the World Series, but the Reds ultimately fell to the Astros.

Despite the disappointing end to the season, Lorenzen had a breakout year in 2017. He established himself as a key member of the Reds bullpen, and made history in the process.

5. Lorenzen’s 2018 Season

The Cincinnati Reds 2018 season was the 127th season for the franchise in Major League Baseball, and their 12th in Cincinnati. The Reds played their home games at Great American Ball Park and were managed by Bryan Price. They finished the season with a record of 68–94, last in the National League Central.

Pitcher Michael Lorenzen had a solid season for the Reds, appearing in a career-high 75 games and posting a 3.11 ERA. He also chipped in offensively, hitting .290/.313/.444 with four home runs and 15 RBI. Here’s a look at Lorenzen’s 2018 season by the numbers:

Games Played: 75

Innings Pitched: 90.1

Strikeouts: 86

Walks: 30

Home Runs Allowed: 11

ERA: 3.11

WHIP: 1.17

Lorenzen was one of the most versatile players on the Reds roster in 2018, appearing in games as a starter, reliever, and even a pinch-hitter on occasion. He made 19 starts but was mostly used out of the bullpen, where he was one of the team’s most reliable arms.

In 75 games, Lorenzen pitched 90.1 innings, striking out 86 batters and walking just 30. His ERA of 3.11 was the best of his career, and he also set career highs in games played and innings pitched. He did a good job of keeping the ball in the park, allowing just 11 home runs.

Lorenzen was also a weapon at the plate, hitting .290/.313/.444 with four home runs and 15 RBI. He became just the second pitcher in MLB history to hit four home runs and pitch 50 innings in the same season.

The 2018 season was a breakout year for Lorenzen, and he established himself as one of the most valuable players on the Reds roster. He should continue to be a key piece of the team in 2019 and beyond.

6. Lorenzen’s 2019 Season

The 2019 season was a breakout year for Reds reliever Michael Lorenzen. The hard-throwing right-hander posted a 3.13 ERA and 1.17 WHIP over 73 innings, striking out 81 batters while walking just 22. He also picked up eight saves, mostly in the second half of the season.

Lorenzen was especially effective against left-handed hitters, holding them to a .196/.292/.321 batting line. His fastball-slider combination was virtually unhittable at times, and he did a good job of mixing in his changeup to keep hitters off balance.

The Reds rewarded Lorenzen with a two-year, $6 million contract extension in September, ensuring that he’ll remain a key part of their bullpen for the foreseeable future. With another year of experience under his belt, Lorenzen should be even better in 2020.

7. Lorenzen’s 2020 Season

The 2020 season was a big one for Michael Lorenzen. The right-handed reliever appeared in a career-high 58 games, posting a 2.92 ERA and 1.09 WHIP while striking out 65 batters in 62.1 innings pitched. He also chipped in two home runs and four RBI at the plate.

Lorenzen got off to a strong start to the season, pitching to a 1.93 ERA in his first 23 games. He then hit a rough patch in mid-July, allowing runs in four straight outings. However, he bounced back and finished the season strong, allowing just four runs in his final 27 games.

Lorenzen was especially effective against left-handed hitters, who batted just .169 against him. He also pitched well in high-leverage situations, posting a 1.80 ERA in those situations.

Overall, it was a very successful season for Lorenzen, who established himself as one of the top relief pitchers in baseball. He will be a key piece of the Reds bullpen again in 2021 and should continue to be a valuable asset both on the mound and at the plate.

8. Lorenzen’s Post-Playing Career

Michael Lorenzen was drafted by the Cincinnati Reds in the first round of the 2013 Major League Baseball Draft. He made his Major League debut in 2015.

Lorenzen appeared in relief for the Reds during the 2015 season. He pitched to a 2-1 record and a 4.15 ERA in 61 games. Lorenzen became the first Reds rookie to appear in at least 60 games since Scott Williamson did so in 1999.

The following season, Lorenzen again pitched out of the bullpen for the Reds. He appeared in a career-high 72 games, pitching to a 4-3 record and a 3.13 ERA

Lorenzen became a full-time starter for the Reds in 2017. He made 27 starts, pitching to a 3-8 record and 5.40 ERA.

Lorenzen began the 2018 season in the Reds bullpen but was moved to the starting rotation in May. He made 16 starts, pitching to a 4-8 record and 5.45 ERA.

Lorenzen was again used as a reliever by the Reds in 2019. He appeared in a career-high 73 games, pitching to a 6-3 record and 3.97 ERA.

Lorenzen became a free agent after the 2019 season. He signed a one-year contract with the Los Angeles Angels on January 10, 2020.