Miles Mikolas

Mikolas pitched for Jupiter Community High School in Palm Beach County, Florida, from which he graduated in 2006.{{cite news|last=Capozzi|first=Joe|title='Great feeling' for Padres pitcher Mikolas, a Jupiter High grad, to make debut vs. Marlins|url=http://www.palmbeachpost.com/news/sports/baseball/great-feeling-for-padres-pitcher-miles-mikolas-a-j/nN3gg/|access-date=February 27, 2013|newspaper=The Palm Beach Post|date=May 7, 2012}} He then attended Nova Southeastern University and played college baseball for the Nova Southeastern Sharks.{{cite web|url=https://www.ncaa.com/news/baseball/article/2018-07-13/these-former-dii-baseball-standouts-are-heading-2018-mlb-all-star |title=These former DII baseball standouts are heading to the 2018 MLB All Star Game |publisher=NCAA.com |date=July 16, 2018 |access-date=August 14, 2018}} In 2009, his junior year, he went 7–2 with a 2.06 ERA in 11 starts.

The San Diego Padres selected Mikolas in the seventh round of the 2009 Major League Baseball draft.{{cite web|author=Stats |url=https://www.cbssports.com/mlb/news/many-miles-later-cardinals-mikolas-faces-padres/ |title=Many Miles later, Cardinals' Mikolas faces Padres |publisher=CBSSports.com |date=May 10, 2018 |access-date=August 14, 2018}}

Mikolas pitched as a reliever for the Class-A Fort Wayne TinCaps in 2010, and was 6–3 with 13 saves (2nd in the Midwest League) and posted a 2.20 earned run average (ERA) in 60 games (leading the league).{{Cite web |title=Miles Mikolas Minor, Fall & Japanese Leagues Statistics |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=mikola001mil |access-date=2025-06-06 |website=Baseball-Reference.com |language=en}} He was named a Midwest League All Star.[https://www.milb.com/player/miles-mikolas-571945 Miles Mikolas Stats, Highlights, Bio | MiLB.com Stats | The Official Site of Minor League Baseball]

He began 2011 with the High-A Lake Elsinore Storm and, after going 3–0 with 12 saves (4th in the California League) and a 1.13 ERA in 34 games, was promoted to the Double-A San Antonio Missions on July 4.{{cite news|last=Center|first=Bill|title=Daily Update: Darnell, Brach, Gyorko, Mikolas promoted|url=http://www.utsandiego.com/news/2011/jul/04/daily-update-darnell-brach-promoted/|access-date=February 27, 2013|newspaper=The San Diego Union-Tribune|date=July 4, 2011}} Mikolas finished out 2011 by going 1–0 with nine saves and compiling a 1.67 ERA as a reliever for the Missions over 28 games.

Mikolas received a non-roster invitation to spring training in 2012. He was assigned to the minor league camp later in the spring, and started the year with San Antonio.{{cite news|last=Center|first=Bill|title=Padres Report: Five sent to minor league camp|url=http://www.utsandiego.com/news/2012/mar/25/padres-report-five-sent-minor-league-camp/|access-date=February 27, 2013|newspaper=The San Diego Union-Tribune|date=March 25, 2012}} Mikolas was called up to the majors for the first time directly from Double-A San Antonio on May 5, 2012.{{cite web|last=Baer |first=Bill |url=http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/2012/05/05/huston-street-to-undergo-mri-exam-on-sore-shoulder/ |title=Huston Street to go on disabled list with shoulder strain |publisher=Hardballtalk.nbcsports.com |date=May 5, 2012 |access-date=August 14, 2018}} He made his debut at Petco Park against the Miami Marlins, for whom he grew up rooting. The first batter he faced, Giancarlo Stanton, hit a home run.{{cite web|url=https://www.palmbeachpost.com/sports/baseball/great-feeling-for-padres-pitcher-miles-mikolas-jupiter-high-grad-make-debut-marlins/FqxgjXW4r6yWODTcHXqP2L/|title='Great feeling' for Padres pitcher Miles Mikolas, a Jupiter High grad, to make debut vs. Marlins|work=palmbeachpost |access-date=August 14, 2018}} Mikolas was sent down to the Triple-A Tucson Padres on June 5, after making 13 appearances and allowing five earned runs in 13{{fraction|2|3}} innings. He was recalled on July 5,{{cite web|last=Brock|first=Corey|title=Padres recall Mikolas to bolster bullpen|url=http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20120705&content_id=34546620¬ebook_id=34560020&vkey=notebook_sd&c_id=sd|work=MLB.com|access-date=February 27, 2013|date=July 5, 2012}} and made two more appearances before being optioned back to Triple-A. He was recalled from Tucson again on August 5,{{cite web|title=Padres recall RHP Miles Mikolas from Triple-A|url=http://www.azfamily.com/sports/national/165072306.html|publisher=azfamily.com|access-date=February 27, 2013|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140714182329/http://www.azfamily.com/sports/national/165072306.html|archive-date=July 14, 2014}} and stayed with the big league club through the rest of the year. For the season, Mikolas was 2–1 and amassed a 3.62 ERA and 23 strikeouts versus 15 walks over 32{{fraction|1|3}} innings.[https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/m/mikolmi01.shtml Miles Mikolas Stats | Baseball-Reference.com]

In 2013 with Tucson, he was 4–2 with a 3.25 ERA, and 26 saves (3rd in the Pacific Coast League).[https://web.archive.org/web/20190201120146/http://www.milb.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?y=2013&t=l_pit&lid=112 Pacific Coast League 2013 Pitching Leaders | MiLB.com Stats | The Official Site of Minor League Baseball] He pitched {{Frac|1|2|3}} scoreless innings for the Padres. Mikolas was designated for assignment by the Padres on November 20, 2013.

File: Miles Mikolas at Minute Maid Park in August 2014.jpg

The Padres traded Mikolas to the Pittsburgh Pirates, along with Jaff Decker, for Alex Dickerson after the 2013 season.{{cite web|last=Baer |first=Bill |url=https://mlb.nbcsports.com/2013/11/25/pirates-acquire-jaff-decker-from-padres-designate-garrett-jones-for-assignment/ |title=Pirates acquire Jaff Decker from Padres, designate Garrett Jones for assignment – HardballTalk |publisher=Mlb.nbcsports.com |date=November 25, 2013 |access-date=August 14, 2018}}{{cite web|url=http://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/sports/padres/sd-sp-padres-first-pitch-return-of-miles-mikolas-20180510-story.html |title=First pitch: The return of Miles Mikolas |work=The San Diego Union-Tribune |date=May 11, 2018 |access-date=August 14, 2018}} During that offseason, the Pirates traded him to the Texas Rangers in exchange for Chris McGuiness.{{cite web |url=http://rangersblog.dallasnews.com/2013/12/texas-rangers-trade-1b-chris-mcguiness-for-pirates-p-miles-mikolas.html/ |title=Texas Rangers: Texas Rangers trade 1B Chris McGuiness for Pirates P Miles Mikolas | SportsDay |publisher=Rangersblog.dallasnews.com |access-date=August 14, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141112065812/http://rangersblog.dallasnews.com/2013/12/texas-rangers-trade-1b-chris-mcguiness-for-pirates-p-miles-mikolas.html/ |archive-date=November 12, 2014 |url-status=dead }} He began the 2014 season with the Round Rock Express.

Mikolas was called up to the Rangers' 25-man roster on July 1, 2014.{{cite web |url=http://rangersblog.dallasnews.com/2014/07/texas-rangers-designate-joe-saunders-for-assignment-insert-miles-mikolas-into-starting-rotation.html/ |title=Texas Rangers designate Joe Saunders for assignment, insert Miles Mikolas into starting rotation | Dallas Morning News |access-date=July 1, 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140706123055/http://rangersblog.dallasnews.com/2014/07/texas-rangers-designate-joe-saunders-for-assignment-insert-miles-mikolas-into-starting-rotation.html/ |archive-date=July 6, 2014 }} In {{frac|44|2|3}} innings pitched prior to his promotion, he had a 5–1 win–loss record with a 3.22 ERA. Mikolas started his first career game against the Baltimore Orioles,{{cite web|url=https://nsusharks.com/news/2014/7/2/BB_0702142150.aspx?path=baseball|title=Miles Mikolas To Make First Major League Start - Nova Southeastern University|website=Nova Southeastern University|date=July 2, 2014 |access-date=August 14, 2018}} giving up three hits and three runs in {{frac|5|1|3}} innings. He spent the remainder of the season with Texas, going 2–5 with a 6.44 ERA in ten starts. The Rangers released Mikolas after the 2014 season.{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/07/07/sports/baseball/all-star-picks.html |title=Miles Mikolas Took a Wild Journey to the Cardinals Rotation |work=The New York Times |date=July 7, 2018 |access-date=August 14, 2018 |last1=Kepner |first1=Tyler }}

On November 25, 2014, Mikolas signed a one-year, {{Currency|700000|USD}} deal with the Yomiuri Giants of Nippon Professional Baseball for the 2015 season.{{cite web|url=https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2014/11/25/baseball/japanese-baseball/giants-acquire-pitchers-poreda-mikolas/|title=Giants acquire pitchers Poreda, Mikolas|date=November 25, 2014|access-date=August 14, 2018|via=Japan Times Online}} In 2015, he was 13–3. After the season, the Giants re-signed him to a two-year deal.{{cite web|url=https://www.si.com/mlb/2017/11/28/miles-mikolas-mlb-free-agency-rumors-shohei-ohtani|title=Miles Mikolas drawining MLB interest after NPB stint|date=November 28, 2017 |access-date=August 14, 2018}} In three seasons for Yomiuri, he pitched to a 31–13 record with a 2.18 ERA in 62 starts.{{cite web|url=http://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/21677377/miles-mikolas-31-13-japan-joins-st-louis-cardinals |title=Miles Mikolas, 31–13 in Japan, joins St. Louis Cardinals |work=Espn.com |date=December 5, 2017 |access-date=August 14, 2018}}

Mikolas signed a two-year, $15.5 million contract with the St. Louis Cardinals on December 5, 2017.{{cite news |url=http://m.cardinals.mlb.com/news/article/262884178/cardinals-sign-miles-mikolas-to-2-year-deal |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171205184416/http://m.cardinals.mlb.com/news/article/262884178/cardinals-sign-miles-mikolas-to-2-year-deal/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=December 5, 2017 |title=Cardinals sign Mikolas to 2-year contract |last=Langosch |first=Jenifer |work=MLB.com |date=December 5, 2017 |access-date=December 5, 2017}} He won his debut with the Cardinals 8–4 on April 2, 2018, at Miller Park against the Milwaukee Brewers. While batting, he hit a two-run home run versus Zach Davies for his first major league hit. On the mound, he completed {{frac|5|2|3}} innings, allowing three home runs and four runs total, while striking out five and walking none.{{cite news |last=Wagner |first=Andrew |title=Mikolas homers, pitches Cardinals over Brewers |url=https://www.mlb.com/news/miles-mikolas-homers-pitches-cards-over-crew/c-270517740 |work=MLB.com |access-date=April 2, 2018 |date=April 2, 2018}}

File:Giants micolas39.JPG]]

Mikolas threw his first major league complete game, a shutout, on May 21, 2018, at Busch Stadium against the Kansas City Royals. He struck out nine, walked one, and gave up only four hits as the Cardinals defeated Kansas City 6–0.{{cite web|url=https://www.stltoday.com/sports/baseball/professional/mikolas-puts-up-nine-zeros-against-royals/article_5cce0d7e-5f2c-5bb6-89e5-bdc042827675.html|title=Mikolas puts up nine zeros against Royals|date=May 22, 2018 |publisher=St. Louis Post-Dispatch|access-date=May 22, 2018}} Owning a 9–3 record, a 2.63 ERA, and a 1.03 WHIP, Mikolas was named to the 2018 Major League Baseball All-Star Game, his first All-Star selection.{{cite web|last=Trezza |first=Joe |url=https://www.mlb.com/cardinals/news/miles-mikolas-named-national-league-all-star/c-284891476 |title=Miles Mikolas named National League All-Star | St. Louis Cardinals |work=Mlb.com |date=May 24, 2018 |access-date=August 14, 2018}}

Mikolas finished his 2018 campaign with an 18–4 record (including a 10–0 record on the road), a league-leading .818 won-loss percentage, a 2.83 ERA (4th in the National League), 1.071 WHIP (5th), walking just 29 batters in {{Frac|200|2|3}} innings (6th), in 32 starts (9th).[http://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/24836290/mlb-hours-miles-mikolas-kept-st-louis-cardinals-postseason-hopes-alive MLB - For a few hours, Miles Mikolas kept St. Louis Cardinals' postseason hopes alive] His 18 wins tied with Jon Lester and Max Scherzer for the NL lead. He led the majors with only 1.30 BB/9, and also led all major league pitchers in first-strike percentage (70.8%).[https://www.fangraphs.com/leaders.aspx?pos=all&stats=pit&lg=all&qual=y&type=5&season=2016&month=0&season1=2016&ind=0&team=0&rost=0&age=0&filter=&players=0&sort=10,d Major League Leaderboards » 2016 » Pitchers » Plate Discipline Statistics | FanGraphs Baseball][https://www.fangraphs.com/leaders.aspx?pos=all&stats=pit&lg=all&qual=y&type=8&season=2018&month=0&season1=2018&ind=0&team=0&rost=0&age=0&filter=&players=0&sort=10,a Major League Leaderboards » 2018 » Pitchers » Dashboard | FanGraphs Baseball] In addition, he had the highest zone percentage of all major league pitchers, with 48.0% of his pitches being in the strike zone.[https://www.fangraphs.com/leaders.aspx?pos=all&stats=pit&lg=all&qual=y&type=5&season=2018&month=0&season1=2018&ind=0&team=0&rost=0&age=0&filter=&players=0&sort=9,d Major League Leaderboards » 2018 » Pitchers » Plate Discipline Statistics | FanGraphs Baseball] On defense, he was second among NL pitchers in range factor per 9 innings (2.20), third in putouts (19), and fourth in assists (30). He came in sixth in the voting for the 2018 NL Cy Young Award.

File:Miles Mikolas 2023.png

On February 26, 2019, Mikolas and the Cardinals agreed on a four-year extension worth $68 million.{{Cite web|url=http://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/26085891/cardinals-ace-mikolas-agree-4-year-extension|title = Cardinals, ace Mikolas agree on 4-year extension|date = February 26, 2019}} He finished the 2019 regular season with a 9–14 record and a 4.16 ERA, striking out 144 over 184 innings. He was named St. Louis' Game 1 starter for the 2019 National League Division Series.{{Cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/27747033/braves-dallas-keuchel-face-cardinals-miles-mikolas-game-1|title=Keuchel, Mikolas get calls for Game 1 of NLDS|date=October 2, 2019}} He missed the entire 2020 season due to undergoing surgery to repair a flexor tendon in his right arm.{{Cite web|url=https://www.mlb.com/news/miles-mikolas-has-right-forearm-strain|title=Mikolas needs surgery, out for rest of season|website=MLB.com}}

On August 20, 2021, Mikolas was activated off of the 60-day injured list after missing the past 75 games with a right forearm strain.{{Cite web|url=https://www.mlb.com/press-release/press-release-cardinals-activate-mikolas-from-il-ryan-helsley-to-10-day-il-with-#:~:text=LOUIS%2C%20MO.%2C%20August%2020,team's%20series%20opener%20against%20Pittsburgh.|title = Cardinals activate Mikolas from injured list; Ryan Helsley to 10-day IL with right elbow injury|website = MLB.com}}

Mikolas threw {{frac|8|2|3}} no-hit innings in a game on June 14, 2022, against the Pittsburgh Pirates. With two strikes in the count to the next batter, Cal Mitchell, Mikolas allowed a ground-rule double.{{cite web | url=https://www.mlb.com/pirates/news/cal-mitchell-breaks-up-miles-mikolas-no-hitter | title=Mitchell spoils Mikolas' no-hit bid with 2-out double in 9th | website=MLB.com }} Mikolas was named to the 2022 Major League Baseball All-Star Game after replacing Corbin Burnes.{{cite web|last=Denton |first=John |url=https://www.mlb.com/news/miles-mikolas-added-to-2022-nl-all-star-game-roster|title=Miles Mikolas added to NL All-Star Game roster |work=Mlb.com |date=July 17, 2022 |access-date=July 29, 2022}}

On March 24, 2023, Mikolas agreed to a two-year, $40 million contract extension with the Cardinals.{{cite web | last=Denton | first=John | title=Miles Mikolas extension with Cardinals | website=MLB.com | date=2023-03-24 | url=https://www.mlb.com/news/miles-mikolas-extension-with-cardinals | access-date=2024-12-27}} Despite a regression in his performance, Mikolas became the first pitcher to start 35 games in a season since Jhoulys Chacín in 2018.{{Cite web |title=Games Started Year-by-Year Leaders by Baseball Almanac |url=https://www.baseball-almanac.com/pitching/pigstar4.shtml |access-date=2024-05-31 |website=www.baseball-almanac.com}} He finished the season with a 4.78 ERA and only walked 39 hitters in 201.1 innings.

Mikolas is married to Lauren Mikolas, who was an elementary school teacher, UFC ring girl, and certified wellness coach who became a social media celebrity in Japan with her lifestyle blog.{{cite web|url= http://en.rocketnews24.com/2015/06/17/u-s-baseball-player-joins-tokyos-yomiuri-giants-but-its-his-wife-thats-getting-the-attention/|title= U.S. baseball player joins Tokyo's Yomiuri Giants, but it's his wife that's getting the attention|work=RocketNews24|date= June 16, 2015|access-date=July 4, 2015|accessdate=|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210728013707/https://soranews24.com/2015/06/17/u-s-baseball-player-joins-tokyos-yomiuri-giants-but-its-his-wife-thats-getting-the-attention/| archive-date=July 28, 2021}}{{cite web | last=Mikolas | first=Lauren Westcott | title=How a teacher from Jupiter became a celebrity in Japan | website=Palm Beach Post | date=2016-01-25 | url=https://www.palmbeachpost.com/story/lifestyle/2016/01/25/how-teacher-from-jupiter-became/7384580007/ | access-date=2024-08-09}} Their first child, a daughter, was born in March 2017,{{cite web|last=Trezza |first=Joe |url=https://www.mlb.com/cardinals/news/miles-mikolas-to-miss-2018-all-star-game/c-286115850 |title=Miles Mikolas to miss 2018 All-Star Game | St. Louis Cardinals |work=Mlb.com |date=May 24, 2018 |access-date=August 14, 2018}} and his wife gave birth to twins, a son and a daughter, in July 2018.{{cite web|author=FOX Sports Midwest |url=https://www.foxsports.com/midwest/story/st-louis-cardinals-place-miles-mikolas-on-paternity-leave-recall-matt-bowman-from-triple-a-memphis-071818 |title=Cardinals place Mikolas on paternity leave, recall Bowman from Triple-A |work=FOX Sports |date=July 18, 2018 |access-date=August 14, 2018}}

Mikolas got the nickname "Lizard King" when, on a bet, he ate a lizard in the bullpen during a 2011 Arizona Fall League game. The video was posted to YouTube.{{cite web|title=Padres add heat to mix with reliever Miles Mikolas, the legendary Lizard King of the San Diego bullpen|url=http://mlbforlife.com/2012/05/08/padres-add-heat-to-mix-with-reliever-miles-mikolas-the-legendary-lizard-king-of-the-san-diego-bullpen/|work=MLBlogs Network|publisher=mlbblogger|access-date=February 27, 2013|date=May 8, 2012}}

{{Portal|Biography|Baseball|Florida}}

• List of Nova Southeastern University alumni
• St. Louis Cardinals award winners and league leaders

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Category:1988 births

Category:Living people

Category:American expatriate baseball players in Japan

Category:Eugene Emeralds players

Category:Fort Wayne TinCaps players

Category:Lake Elsinore Storm players

Category:Major League Baseball pitchers

Category:Memphis Redbirds players

Category:National League All-Stars

Category:National League (baseball) wins champions

Category:Nippon Professional Baseball pitchers

Category:Nova Southeastern Sharks baseball players

Category:Sportspeople from Jupiter, Florida

Category:Baseball players from Palm Beach County, Florida

Category:San Antonio Missions players

Category:San Diego Padres players

Category:St. Louis Cardinals players

Category:Texas Rangers players

Category:Tucson Padres players

Category:Yomiuri Giants players

Category:2023 World Baseball Classic players

Category:World Baseball Classic players of the United States