The hottest pitcher in baseball right now isn’t a $100 million man (CC Sabathia / Johan Santana). He’s a guy on the Kansas City Royals that a lot of people had never heard of before the 2009 season. Zack Greinke is currently 6-0 with a .40 ERA and 54 strikeouts. He’s 25 years old and poised for stardom.

Greinke played well in 2008 having gone 13-10, with a 3.47 ERA, 183 strikeouts, and 56 walks in 202.1 innings pitched. 2008 was his first full season back in the starting rotation after battling a severe case of depression from 2005-2007. Greinke took his time to return and looks like he’s overcome all his issues. Through six starts so far in 2009, Zack has three complete-game shutouts. That’s amazing!

He currently ranks 1st in every single AL pitching category, except innings pitched (he ranks 2nd with 45). It’s wonderful to see such a great pitcher playing on a small market team like the Kansas City Royals. They just inked him to a four-year contract extension so hopefully he’ll be there for the long-haul. Greinke may not win a World Series playing for the Royals, but neither did Nolan Ryan for the Astros or Randy Johnson for the Mariners. A great pitcher can stand out and win Cy Young’s even while playing for a 75-win team.