Why is Miles Mikolas called 'Lizard King'? Uncovering the story behind St. Louis Cardinals ace's nickname

Donning his patented mustache, Miles Mikolas has become a fan favorite for the St. Louis Cardinals in recent seasons. While not known as a power pitcher, Mikolas has been effective with his command in the strike zone, and giving hitters little to work with has made him one of the most underrated pitchers in baseball.

Last season, Mikolas was named to the National League All-Star Team for the second time in his career. Through 202.1 innings for the Cardinals last year, Miles posted a 12-13 record with a 3.29 ERA and 153 strikeouts. It was only the second time in his MLB career that he topped the 200-inning threshold.

"Miles Mikolas is exactly the type of finesse RH SP that would give the 2022 Blue Jays serious problems. He throws the kitchen sink: FF/SL/SI/CU/CH and had good results with all of them save for the changeup. Brandon Belt and Daulton Varaho are going to be massively important." - Damon

While Mikolas is known throughout the league for his thick, vibrant mustache, among those who know him better, he is simply known as the Lizard King. While baseball nicknames tend to come out of nowhere, Mikolas' came with good reason.

That nickname stems from an event in 2011 when Mikolas was playing in the San Diego Padres minor league system. The righty ate a live lizard during an Arizona Fall League game, following a lost bet. While it's best to avoid eating any sort of live animal in general, Mikolas' moment has lived on for over a decade.

"Miles Mikolas can eat every lizard he want tonight" - Redbirds Gang (Spring Training)

Miles Mikolas signs a two-year extension with the St. Louis Cardinals

Following his successful 2022 season, the St. Louis Cardinals announced that they have re-signed the 34-year-old pitcher to a two-year, $40 million contract extension. He will receive a $5 million signing bonus and a $3 million boost to his 2023 salary from $15.75 million to $18.75 million. Mikolas will then make $16 million per year in 2024 and 2025.

"The thin free-agent pitching class just got even thinner with the #STLCards signing All-Star Miles Mikolas to a two-year, $40 million extension." - Bob Nightengale

The Lizard King's extension will come as welcome news for the St. Louis Cardinals, who will be without Adam Wainwright at the start of the season. The 41-year-old Wainwright will likely miss "several weeks" after suffering a groin strain during the World Baseball Classic, Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol told the media.