Max Scherzer Wife
Max Scherzer’s wife is Erica May-Scherzer, an American animal welfare advocate and former college softball pitcher born in Englewood, Colorado. Max Scherzer is a three-time Cy Young Award winner and one of the most dominant pitchers of his generation, known for his fiery competitiveness and two career no-hitters. While Max has built his legacy on the mound, Erica has quietly built her own story off the field, as a mother of four, a philanthropist, and a steady presence throughout his 20-year MLB journey. This article covers everything worth knowing about Erica May-Scherzer, including her background, career, how she met Max Scherzer, their marriage, and their family life together.
Who Is Erica May-Scherzer?
Erica May-Scherzer, born Erica May, grew up in Englewood, Colorado, alongside her sister, Allison. Her parents are Ronald May and Gail Spearow-May. Different outlets report her birth year slightly differently, but she is widely cited as being born in the mid-to-late 1980s, making her a longtime Colorado native before her move east for Max’s career.
Erica attended Cherry Creek High School in Englewood, where she excelled as a student-athlete. She pitched for the school’s softball team, earned all-conference honors, and also worked as a sportswriter and editor for the school newspaper, showing an early interest in both athletics and writing.
After high school, Erica earned a softball scholarship to the University of Missouri, where she continued pitching at the collegiate level. A heart condition eventually forced her to step away from competitive softball, and she went on to complete her education, later earning a bachelor’s degree in History from the University of Colorado Denver. That blend of athletic discipline and academic focus has shaped much of her adult life, particularly her work in advocacy.
Erica May-Scherzer’s Career and Professional Life
Erica’s professional life has centered less on the spotlight and more on service. After her competitive softball career ended, she shifted her energy toward community and charitable work, a path that has defined her public identity as much as her marriage to Max Scherzer.
She has served on the board of directors for the Humane Rescue Alliance in Washington, D.C., where she supported adoption programs and animal welfare initiatives. Erica has also been linked to Polaris Project, an organization that works to combat human trafficking, reflecting her broader interest in human rights causes. Alongside Max, she has supported LGBTQ+ advocacy efforts within Major League Baseball, including “Night Out” events during his time with the Detroit Tigers.
Erica is not primarily known for a traditional career or a publicly reported net worth of her own; most of her time has been devoted to philanthropy and raising the couple’s four children. Max Scherzer, by contrast, has earned well over $200 million in career MLB salary across stints with the Diamondbacks, Tigers, Nationals, Dodgers, Mets, Rangers, and Blue Jays, giving the family significant financial stability that has allowed Erica to focus on causes she cares about rather than a conventional 9-to-5 career.
How Did Max and Erica Meet?
Max Scherzer and Erica May’s love story began in 2004 at the University of Missouri, where both were freshman student-athletes. Max pitched for the Missouri baseball team, while Erica pitched for the softball program. Their shared identity as pitchers gave them an instant connection; as many who know the couple have noted, few people understand the mental grind of pitching quite like another pitcher does.
The two began dating not long after meeting on campus, and their relationship continued to grow through the rest of college. In 2006, Max was drafted by the Arizona Diamondbacks, and Erica made the decision to move with him as his career shifted into professional baseball. That choice marked the start of a pattern that would define much of their relationship: Erica adapting her life around Max’s ever-changing MLB stops, from Arizona to Detroit to Washington, D.C.
Rather than rushing into marriage, the couple took their time, dating for close to a decade while Max established himself as one of baseball’s top pitchers. Their bond was tested by the demands of a baseball season, including long road trips and cross-country moves, but the relationship held strong, eventually leading to an engagement and, later, marriage.
Marriage and Wedding Details
Max Scherzer and Erica May-Scherzer got married in November 2013, tying the knot in Arizona, the state where Max’s MLB career had first begun with the Diamondbacks. The wedding came during a pivotal point in Max’s career, just as he was emerging as a Cy Young–caliber pitcher with the Detroit Tigers.
The couple chose to keep many of the finer wedding details private, in keeping with their generally low-key approach to their personal life despite Max’s high public profile. What is well documented is the timing: after nearly a decade together, marrying in 2013 formalized a partnership that had already weathered the unpredictability of professional sports. Since their wedding, Erica has been a visible presence at Max’s biggest career milestones, including championship celebrations, All-Star Games, and multiple World Series runs.
Children and Family Life
Max and Erica have built a family of four children together. Their oldest daughter, Brooklyn, was born in 2017, followed by their second daughter, Kacey, in 2019. Their first son, Derek Alexander, was born in 2021, memorably arriving just hours after Max made a scheduled MLB start, timing he had planned specifically so he could be present for the birth. Their youngest daughter, Nikki, was born in 2023.
Raising four children while Max moved between teams, including the Nationals, Dodgers, Mets, Rangers, and Blue Jays, has required constant adjustment from the family. Erica has largely managed the household and the children’s routines during the season, while Max juggled starts, travel, and postseason runs. Despite the demands of his career, the family has made a consistent effort to appear together at major milestones, including World Series appearances, while otherwise keeping the children’s day-to-day lives out of the public eye.
Erica May-Scherzer on Social Media
Erica is active on Instagram under the handle @emaysway, where her following has grown into the tens of thousands over the years. Her posts typically focus on her family, her four children, moments with Max around his baseball career, and content promoting animal adoption, in line with her long-running advocacy work with organizations like the Humane Rescue Alliance. She occasionally shares glimpses of the family’s travels tied to Max’s MLB schedule, along with charitable initiatives she supports.
Compared to many athlete spouses, Erica keeps a relatively modest and low-drama social media presence, favoring cause-related and family content over lifestyle branding or sponsorships.
Quick Facts
| Detail | Info |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Erica May-Scherzer (née Erica May) |
| Date of Birth | Reported as the late 1980s, in Englewood, Colorado |
| Nationality | American |
| Profession | Animal welfare advocate and philanthropist; former college softball pitcher |
| Married to | Max Scherzer, MLB pitcher |
| Marriage Year | 2013 |
| Children | 4 (Brooklyn, Kacey, Derek Alexander, Nikki) |
| Net Worth | Not publicly disclosed; Max Scherzer’s MLB career earnings exceed $200 million |
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What is Max Scherzer’s wife’s name? A: Max Scherzer’s wife is Erica May-Scherzer. She was born Erica May before marrying Max in 2013.
Q: How old is Erica May-Scherzer? A: Erica’s exact birth year is reported inconsistently across sources, generally placing her in her late 30s as of 2026. She was born in Englewood, Colorado.
Q: What does Erica May-Scherzer do for a living? A: Erica is primarily known for her philanthropic work, including serving on the board of the Humane Rescue Alliance and supporting anti-trafficking and LGBTQ+ advocacy causes.
Q: When did Max Scherzer and Erica May-Scherzer get married? A: The couple married in November 2013 in Arizona, after dating since they met at the University of Missouri in 2004.
Q: How many kids do Max Scherzer and Erica May-Scherzer have? A: Max and Erica have four children together: daughters Brooklyn, Kacey, and Nikki, and son Derek Alexander.
Conclusion
Erica May-Scherzer has spent more than two decades alongside Max Scherzer, starting as a fellow college pitcher and growing into a mother of four and a dedicated advocate for animal welfare and human rights causes. While Max Scherzer’s wife has largely stayed out of the spotlight compared to her husband’s high-profile baseball career, her steady presence through multiple team moves, championship runs, and growing family responsibilities has made her an essential part of his story. As Max continues his MLB career, Erica remains the constant behind the scenes, balancing family life with the causes she cares about most.
