Michael Lorenzen is a veteran right-handed pitcher for the Colorado Rockies in Major League Baseball.
Lorenzen grew up in Anaheim in a turbulent household marked by his parents’ struggles with drugs and alcohol, which often led to frequent fights and police visits.
His father, Clif Lorenzen, an alcoholic who deserted the family when Michael was 12 to evade legal charges, passed away from liver disease in 2016.
His mother, Cheryl Lorenzen, worked to support the family amid these difficulties.
At age 17, Lorenzen found faith, which helped him turn his life around from a rebellious phase involving substance use.
He attended Fullerton High School and later starred at Cal State Fullerton, where he excelled both as a pitcher and an outfielder, earning multiple All-American honors.
Drafted by the Cincinnati Reds in the first round (38th overall) of the 2013 MLB Draft, he made his major league debut in 2015.
Siblings
Michael Lorenzen is the youngest of four brothers raised in Anaheim by parents Clif and Cheryl.
His three older brothers, Jonathan, Matthew, and Anthony, each had varying connections to baseball and athletics.
Jonathan Lorenzen was the first in the family to gain baseball prominence, getting drafted by the Los Angeles Dodgers and playing briefly in their minor league organization before his career ended due to personal troubles; he later turned his life around.
Matthew Lorenzen played college baseball at Cypress College and Fullerton College.
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Career
Lorenzen’s professional journey began after his standout collegiate career at Cal State Fullerton, where he posted strong numbers as both a pitcher and hitter.
He progressed through the Reds’ system and debuted in the majors on April 29, 2015.
For his first seven seasons with Cincinnati, he served in various roles, including as a starter, reliever, and even occasional position player, notably hitting his first career home run in 2016 shortly after his father’s death and dedicating it to him.
In one memorable 2018 game, he became the first player since Babe Ruth in 1921 to earn a win on the mound, play in the field, and hit a home run in the same contest.
After leaving the Reds as a free agent following 2021, Lorenzen embarked on a series of one-year deals and midseason moves.
He played for the Los Angeles Angels in 2022, the Detroit Tigers and Philadelphia Phillies in 2023 (helping the Phillies reach the postseason), the Texas Rangers in 2024 (where he was traded midseason to the Kansas City Royals and posted a strong 1.57 ERA in relief/starting stints down the stretch), and the Royals again in 2025.
In January 2026, he signed a one-year, $8 million deal with the Colorado Rockies to bolster their starting rotation.
Throughout his career, Lorenzen has accumulated over 100 starts and hundreds of strikeouts, showing durability and the ability to adapt between starting and relieving while occasionally flashing his bat in earlier years.
He has thrown a no-hitter and continued pitching into his mid-30s with the Rockies in 2026.
Accolades
At Cal State Fullerton in 2013, Lorenzen earned First Team All-American honors from multiple organizations, including ABCA/Rawlings, Louisville Slugger, Baseball America, and NCBWA, while also serving as a finalist for the NCBWA Stopper of the Year award.
In the majors, he was selected to the 2023 All-Star Game while with the Detroit Tigers.
He has pitched in the postseason with the Phillies in 2023 and contributed to playoff pushes with other teams.
Additional highlights include throwing a no-hitter in 2023 with his family in attendance and his unique 2018 game where he combined pitching, fielding, and hitting success.
Lorenzen has recorded career totals exceeding 50 wins and 800 strikeouts through 2025, with strong strikeout rates in several seasons.
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