Why Max Scherzer's eyes are two different colors: Explaining the rare condition embraced by Blue Jays pitcher

David Suggs

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Why Max Scherzer's eyes are two different colors: Explaining the rare condition embraced by Blue Jays pitcher image

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The intense, competitive spirit of Max Scherzer is instantly recognizable on the mound, a personality as distinct as any in Major League Baseball. He looms over hitters like a hawk, his 6-foot-3, 208-pound frame looking even more menacing when he stands on the bump.

Scherzer is justly considered one of the best pitchers of this generation. His accolades speak volumes: he has collected three Cy Young Awards, is an eight-time All-Star, and owns two World Series rings (with the Washington Nationals in 2019 and the Texas Rangers in 2023).

Everything Scherzer does is coated in a graceful belligerence. He rips the ball past batters with exceeding regularity—Scherzer is 11th all-time in strikeouts (3,489) and climbing. His pitching technique is chaotic and yet so smooth, accentuated with a famous scowl and plenty of downward force that drives his high-velocity pitches.

And yet, there is another aspect of Scherzer's game that captivates the masses: his eyes.

Scherzer's literal irises are different colors; his left eye is brown, while his right eye is blue.

Ever since Scherzer got to the MLB, his look has been a point of intrigue for the MLB world. Here's the story behind Scherzer's different-colored eyes.

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Why Max Scherzer's eyes are different colors

(Getty Images)

Scherzer's eyes have drawn plenty of interest over the years. But there's a simple reason why his irises are tinted differently: genetics.

Scherzer has a condition called Heterochromia Iridis. The condition refers specifically to differences in iris colors, although the broader term Heterochromia refers to any variation of pigmentation in the eyes, skin or hair.

It's lasts for a lifetime and has been seen time and time again amongst animals, including cats, dogs, cattle and horses. It remains a fairly rare condition among humans, affecting fewer than 200,000 people in the United States; less than 1% of the population has complete Heterochromia.

The condition is a purely cosmetic one; it doesn't affect Scherzer's vision, just his eye color. As such, he's grown to embrace his irises — one of which is deep blue, the other brown.

“I’ve always celebrated it. Whether you like it or not, that’s who I am,” Scherzer said, via NBC Sports. “I got one blue and one brown, there’s nothing I can do about it.”

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Numerous luminaries have lived with the condition, from Byzantine emperor Anastatius the First to Dan Aykroyd. Other sports stars to have been diagnosed with Heterochromia Iridis include former NHLers Ilya Kovalchuk and Shawn Horcoff.

Scherzer has shown an avid appreciation for his eye colors. Per the New York Post, Scherzer grew up drawing pictures which featured subjects having different eye colors. He also adopted dogs with Heterochromia Iridis.

All told, Scherzer's vision has served him well throughout his glimmering career. He owes a lot of that to his powerful eyes, draped in differing shades and yet so undeniably iconic.

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Max Scherzer eye condition

Max Scherzer's Heterochromia Iridis is a genetic condition that causes an imbalance in the amount of melanin pigment in the iris, the colored part of the eye. It can be inherited or acquired, and is usually harmless.

In Scherzer's case, he has complete heterochromia, meaning one iris is entirely a different color from the other. It is a purely cosmetic condition that does not affect his vision.

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Does Max Scherzer have two different colored eyes? 

Yes, Max Scherzer does have two different colored eyes.

The condition is called Heterochromia Iridis. His right eye is blue, while his left eye is a deep brown. It's a genetic condition that affects the pigmentation of the irises.

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Max Scherzer eye color

The star pitcher has two different colored eyes. His right eye is blue, while his left is brown.

Some teams in the MLB have leaned into Max Scherzer's rare characteristic, including the Mets when he was with the team in 2022.

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Does Max Scherzer have a glass eye?

No, Max Scherzer does not have a glass eye. He has two normal eyes, albeit different colors, and complete vision.

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