The statistic referred to as K/9, or strikeouts per nine innings, is a pitching measure that has become increasingly important for pitchers in recent years. It is a simple stat that measures how many strikeouts a pitcher has recorded per nine innings. The higher the number, the better the pitcher is at striking out batters. So, who has the highest career K/9 of all time?
A. Roger Clemens – 11.64 K/9
One of the most legendary pitchers in the history of the game, Roger Clemens is widely considered to be one of the greatest strikeout pitchers of all time. He is the all-time leader in strikeouts per nine innings, with a career K/9 of 11.64. Clemens was at his peak in the late 1980s and early 1990s, when he won seven Cy Young awards and was voted into the Hall of Fame in 2021.
B. Randy Johnson – 10.61 K/9
Randy Johnson was one of the most intimidating pitchers of his era and is widely considered to be one of the greatest left-handed pitchers in baseball history. During his career, Johnson recorded a K/9 of 10.61, which is the second-highest in history. Johnson was known for his imposing presence on the mound and his ability to strike out batters at will. He was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2015.
C. Pedro Martinez – 10.04 K/9
Pedro Martinez is one of the greatest pitchers in the history of the game and is widely considered to be one of the greatest strikeout pitchers of all time. Martinez recorded a career K/9 of 10.04, which is the third-highest in history. During his peak, Martinez was one of the most dominant pitchers of his era, winning three Cy Young awards and being inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2015.
D. Curt Schilling – 9.90 K/9
Curt Schilling was one of the most dominant pitchers of his era and is widely considered to be one of the greatest strikeout pitchers of all time. During his career, Schilling recorded a K/9 of 9.90, which is the fourth-highest in history. Schilling was known for his pinpoint accuracy and his ability to strike out batters at will. He was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2019.
E. Nolan Ryan – 9.55 K/9
Nolan Ryan is widely considered to be one of the greatest pitchers in the history of the game and is the all-time leader in strikeouts. During his career, Ryan recorded a K/9 of 9.55, which is the fifth-highest in history. Ryan was known for his mastery of the strikeout and was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1999.
Conclusion
As you can see, Roger Clemens has the highest career K/9 of all time, with a mark of 11.64. The rest of the top five is made up of Randy Johnson, Pedro Martinez, Curt Schilling, and Nolan Ryan. All five of these pitchers are Hall of Famers and are widely considered to be some of the greatest strikeout pitchers of all time.