Mikolas pitched as a reliever for the Class-A Fort Wayne TinCaps in 2010, and was 6–3 with 13 saves (2nd in the Midwest League) and posted a 2.20 earned run average (ERA) in 60 games (leading the league).[4] He was named a Midwest League All Star.[5]
He began 2011 with the High-A Lake Elsinore Storm and, after going 3–0 with 12 saves (4th in the California League) and a 1.13 ERA in 34 games,[4] was promoted to the Double-A San Antonio Missions on July 4.[6] Mikolas finished out 2011 by going 1–0 with nine saves and compiling a 1.67 ERA as a reliever for the Missions over 28 games.[4]
Mikolas received a non-roster invitation to spring training in 2012. He was assigned to the minor league camp later in the spring, and started the year with San Antonio.[7] Mikolas was called up to the majors for the first time directly from Double-A San Antonio on May 5, 2012.[8] He made his debut at Petco Park against the Miami Marlins, for whom he grew up rooting.[1] The first batter he faced, Giancarlo Stanton, hit a home run.[9] Mikolas was sent down to the Triple-A Tucson Padres on June 5, after making 13 appearances and allowing five earned runs in 132⁄3 innings. He was recalled on July 5,[10] and made two more appearances before being optioned back to Triple-A. He was recalled from Tucson again on August 5,[11] and stayed with the big league club through the rest of the year. For the season, Mikolas was 2–1 and amassed a 3.62 ERA and 23 strikeouts versus 15 walks over 321⁄3 innings.[12]
In 2013 with Tucson, he was 4–2 with a 3.25 ERA, and 26 saves (3rd in the Pacific Coast League).[13] He pitched 1+2⁄3 scoreless innings for the Padres. Mikolas was designated for assignment by the Padres on November 20, 2013.
Mikolas was called up to the Rangers' 25-man roster on July 1, 2014.[17] In 44+2⁄3 innings pitched prior to his promotion, he had a 5–1 win–loss record with a 3.22 ERA. Mikolas started his first career game against the Baltimore Orioles,[18] giving up three hits and three runs in 5+1⁄3 innings. He spent the remainder of the season with Texas, going 2–5 with a 6.44 ERA in ten starts.[12] The Rangers released Mikolas after the 2014 season.[19]
Yomiuri Giants
On November 25, 2014, Mikolas signed a one-year, US$700,000 deal with the Yomiuri Giants of Nippon Professional Baseball for the 2015 season.[20] In 2015, he was 13–3. After the season, the Giants re-signed him to a two-year deal.[21] In three seasons for Yomiuri, he pitched to a 31–13 record with a 2.18 ERA in 62 starts.[22]
St. Louis Cardinals
Mikolas signed a two-year, $15.5 million contract with the St. Louis Cardinals on December 5, 2017.[23] He won his debut with the Cardinals 8–4 on April 2, 2018, at Miller Park against the Milwaukee Brewers. While batting, he hit a two-run home run versus Zach Davies for his first major league hit. On the mound, he completed 5+2⁄3 innings, allowing three home runs and four runs total, while striking out five and walking none.[24]
Mikolas finished his 2018 campaign with an 18–4 record (including a 10–0 record on the road), a league-leading .818 won-loss percentage, a 2.83 ERA (4th in the National League), 1.071 WHIP (5th), walking just 29 batters in 200+2⁄3 innings (6th), in 32 starts (9th).[12][27] His 18 wins tied with Jon Lester and Max Scherzer for the NL lead.[12] He led the majors with only 1.30 BB/9, and also led all major league pitchers in first-strike percentage (70.8%).[28][29] In addition, he had the highest zone percentage of all major league pitchers, with 48.0% of his pitches being in the strike zone.[30] On defense, he was second among NL pitchers in range factor per 9 innings (2.20), third in putouts (19), and fourth in assists (30).[12] He came in sixth in the voting for the 2018 NL Cy Young Award.[12]
On February 26, 2019, Mikolas and the Cardinals agreed on a four-year extension worth $68 million.[31] He finished the 2019 regular season with a 9–14 record and a 4.16 ERA, striking out 144 over 184 innings. He was named St. Louis' Game 1 starter for the 2019 National League Division Series.[32] He missed the entire 2020 season due to undergoing surgery to repair a flexor tendon in his right arm.[33]
On August 20, 2021, Mikolas was activated off of the 60-day injured list after missing the past 75 games with a right forearm strain.[34]
On March 24, 2023, Mikolas agreed to a two-year, $40 million contract extension with the Cardinals.[37] Despite a regression in his performance, Mikolas became the first pitcher to start 35 games in a season since Jhoulys Chacín in 2018.[38] He finished the season with a 4.78 ERA and only walked 39 hitters in 201.1 innings.[12]
Personal life
Mikolas is married to Lauren Mikolas, who was an elementary school teacher, UFCring girl, and certified wellness coach who became a social media celebrity in Japan with her lifestyle blog.[39][40] Their first child, a daughter, was born in March 2017,[41] and his wife gave birth to twins, a son and a daughter, in July 2018.[42]
Mikolas got the nickname "Lizard King" when, on a bet, he ate a lizard in the bullpen during a 2011 Arizona Fall League game. The video was posted to YouTube.[43]
