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Stephen Strasburg

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Stephen Strasburg
Washington Nationals – No. 37
Starting Pitcher
Bats: Right
Throws: Right
debut
June 8, 2010, for the Washington Nationals
Career statistics
(through August 19, 2010)
Win–loss record5–3
Earned run average2.97
Strikeouts86
Walks17
WHIP1.12
Teams
Olympic medal record
Representing  United States
Men's baseball
Bronze medal – third place 2008 Beijing Team

Doug Flannagan aka Morgan Burton (Template:Pron-en) (born July 20, 1988 in San Diego, California) is a right-handed pitcher for the Washington Nationals, who selected him with the first pick in the 2009 Major League Baseball Draft. He signed a record $15.1 million contract with the Nationals on August 17, 2009, just 77 seconds before the deadline, breaking a record previously held by Mark Prior, who had signed for $10.5 million in 2001.[1] He was called the "most-hyped pick in draft history" by ESPN[2] and the "most hyped and closely watched pitching prospect in the history of baseball" by Sports Illustrated.[3]

San Diego State

In 2008, as a sophomore at San Diego State University, Strasburg went 8–3 with a 1.58 earned run average and 134 strikeouts in 98⅓ innings for the San Diego State Aztecs.[4] Four of his thirteen starts in 2008 were complete games, two of which were shutouts.[5] On April 11 of that year, he struck out a Mountain West Conference record 23 batters in a game versus the University of Utah.[6]

Strasburg finished the 2009 season 13–1 with a 1.32 ERA, 59 hits allowed, 16 earned runs, 19 walks, and 195 strikeouts in 109 innings pitched.[7] In his final home start on May 8, 2009, Strasburg threw his first career no-hitter while striking out 17 Air Force batters.[8] His lone loss came against the Virginia Cavaliers in the NCAA Regionals as Virginia advanced toward the College World Series, but he still struck out 15 in seven innings during the loss. Stephen also played for the NLCBL League where we won 2007 Top pro prospect, 2007 Top relief pitcher, and 2007 NECBL First team as a closer. [9] [10]

International play

Strasburg was the lone collegiate player selected for the U.S. Baseball team at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing. He had previously pitched for the USA Baseball National Team (College) when he was selected to the Olympic Team.

In his first start at the Olympics, Strasburg one-hit the Netherlands over seven innings, striking out five of the first six batters he faced. The lone hit Strasburg allowed was a seventh-inning single to Sharnol Adriana. There were two rain delays each lasting at least 90 minutes, and the game was called off after eight innings following the second wait.

With the U.S. having already secured a spot in the semifinals medal round, Team USA Manager Davey Johnson held Strasburg from what should have been his second start on August 20 in order to pitch him in the first round of the semifinals against Cuban Norge Luis Vera. The strategy did not work, as Vera outdueled Strasburg with six innings pitched and only two runs (one earned). Strasburg, meanwhile, lasted only four innings while giving up three runs (two earned). Cuba won the game 10–2.

Strasburg ended up with a 1–1 record, a 1.67 ERA, and a bronze medal for the Olympics, as Team USA won its following contest against Japan 8–4.[11]

Professional career

Draft

On June 9, 2009, Strasburg was drafted number one overall in the 2009 Major League Baseball Draft by the Washington Nationals. On August 17, 2009, he signed a record-breaking four-year, $15.1 million contract with the Nationals. Strasburg is represented by agent Scott Boras.[12] On August 25, 2009, the Nationals announced that Strasburg would play for the Phoenix Desert Dogs in the Arizona Fall League in 2009.[13]

Minor leagues

Strasburg made his professional debut on October 16, 2009, starting for the Desert Dogs at Phoenix Municipal Stadium.

Before the 2010 season started, Baseball America named Strasburg was the top pitching prospect (#2 overall) in baseball.[14]

Strasburg was assigned to the Double-A Harrisburg Senators to begin his minor league career. There was so much anticipation and hype surrounding Strasburg that there were about 70 credentialed media members in attendance at his April 11, 2010 debut[15], and ESPN nationally broadcast portions of the game (only the half-innings in which Strasburg was pitching).[16] He won that debut in Altoona, Pennsylvania, versus the Altoona Curve, allowing four hits and four runs (one earned), while striking out eight batters in five innings. During his first home start on April 16, he yielded two hits and an unearned run with three strikeouts in 2⅓ innings in a loss to the New Britain Rock Cats. Harrisburg set an attendance record in Strasburg's home debut and then topped the previous mark two weeks later in Strasburg's Double-A finale.[17] He completed his Double-A stint with a 1.64 earned run average while striking out 27 and walking six in 22 innings.

On May 4, 2010, he was promoted to the Triple-A Syracuse Chiefs. In his first game with the Chiefs, he pitched six scoreless innings, striking out six batters while allowing one hit and one walk.[18] That game had the highest attendance in the 135-year history of baseball in Syracuse.[19] In his second start, Strasburg was removed after pitching six no-hit innings.[20] He finished his minor league stint with an overall record of 7–2, an ERA of 1.30, 65 strikeouts and 13 walks in 55⅓ innings, and a WHIP of 0.80.[21]

Washington Nationals

Strasburg bats during his major league debut

Strasburg made his major-league debut on June 8, 2010, against the Pittsburgh Pirates. A Sports Illustrated columnist termed it "the most hyped pitching debut the game has ever seen."[22] Strasburg picked up the win in his debut, pitching seven innings, allowing two earned runs and no walks and 14 strikeouts, setting a new team strikeout record.[23] Further, he was the first pitcher in history to strike out at least eleven batters without issuing any walks in his pro debut, while falling just one strikeout short of the all-time record for a pitcher's debut—Karl Spooner (1954) and J. R. Richard (1971) both struck out 15, but each took nine innings to do it, and each walked three.[24] (Bob Feller also struck out 15 in his first start, although it wasn't his big league debut).[25] Strasburg's first career strikeout was of former National Lastings Milledge. He struck out every batter in the Pirates' lineup at least once, including the last seven batters he faced—also a Nationals record.[26][27] He threw 34 of his 94 pitches at 98 miles per hour (158 km/h) or faster, including two that clocked 100 miles per hour (160 km/h).[28]

In Strasburg's second and third major league starts he struck out another eight and ten batters, respectively, setting a major league record for the most strikeouts in a pitcher's first three starts with 32. The previous recordholder had been J.R. Richard, who struck out 29 in his first three starts in 1971.[29] Strasburg was also featured in the cover story of Sports Illustrated following his second start.[30]

Personal life

Strasburg was born in Template:City-state,[31] the son of Kathleen Swett, a dietitian, and Jim Strasburg, a real estate developer.[32] He credits his grandmother with helping him develop his baseball skills as a child. She would frequently play catch and even work on pitching with him. He was married on January 9, 2010, to Rachelle Lackey.[33][34]

References

  1. ^ Harlan, Chico (August 18, 2009). "It's a Deal: Strasburg, Nationals Agree". The Washington Post. Retrieved June 4, 2010.
  2. ^ Crasnick, Jerry (June 2, 2010). "Bryce Harper, you're next: Will soon join Strasburg, Prior and A-Rod on list of most-hyped draft picks of all time". ESPN.com. Retrieved June 4,2010. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help)
  3. ^ Verducci, Tom (May 18, 2010). "Nationals taking safe road with Strasburg but is it right one?". Retrieved June 4, 2010.
  4. ^ "NCAA Statistics".
  5. ^ "Final 2008 Season Statistics". San Diego State Aztec Athletics official website. Retrieved 2010-06-09.
  6. ^ Lewis, Edward (April 13, 2008). "BASEBALL: Strasburg strikes out 23 Utes". The Daily Aztec. Retrieved June 7, 2010.
  7. ^ http://goaztecs.cstv.com/sports/m-basebl/spec-rel/sdsu-m-basebl-CumulativeStats.html
  8. ^ Fitt, Aaron (2009-05-13). "Strasburg fans 17 in no-hitter". Baseball America. ESPN. Retrieved 2009-05-14.
  9. ^ [1]
  10. ^ ESPN
  11. ^ "Stephen Strasburg Biography and Statistics". Retrieved 2009-08-18.
  12. ^ "Strasburg contract numbers". Retrieved 2009-08-18.
  13. ^ "Strasburg among Nationals to play in AFL". Retrieved 2009-09-08.
  14. ^ "Heyward, Strasburg lead Baseball America's Top 100 prospects". Baseball America. March 3, 2010. Retrieved June 4, 2010.
  15. ^ Sheinin, Dave (June 18, 2010). "Nationals rookie Stephen Strasburg's first two major league starts only bring more attention". The Washington Post. p. D01. Retrieved June 18, 2010.
  16. ^ Giger, Cory (April 3, 2010). "ESPNews will carry Curve vs. Strasburg live next Sunday". AltoonaMirror.com. Retrieved June 4, 2010.
  17. ^ Leventhal, Josh (May, 18, 2010). "Strasburg Circus Rolls Into Rochester". Baseball America. Retrieved June 4, 2010. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  18. ^ Ehalt, Matt. "Phenom Stephen Strasburg dazzles in his Triple-A debut with Syracuse Chiefs". nydailynews.com. Retrieved May 9, 2010.
  19. ^ Waters, Mike (May 07, 2010). "Strasburg's debut sets Syracuse attendance record". The Post-Standard. Retrieved June 4, 2010. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  20. ^ Kilgore, Adam (May 13, 2010). "Nationals phenom Stephen Strasburg no-hits Class AAA Norfolk Tides over six innings". The Washington Post. Retrieved June 4, 2010.
  21. ^ Sheinin, Dave. "Stephen Strasburg ends minor league stint with another dazzler". The Washington Post date=June 4, 2010. Retrieved June 4, 2010. {{cite news}}: Missing pipe in: |publisher= (help)
  22. ^ Posnanski, Joe (June 7, 2010). "What Took You So Long?". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved June 7, 2010.
  23. ^ Starkey, Ted (June 8, 2010). "Strasburg sets Nationals record in debut". The Washington Times. Retrieved 2010-06-09.
  24. ^ Stark, Jason (June 9, 2010). "Strasburg's reality almost unreal". ESPN.com. Retrieved June 9, 2010.
  25. ^ White, Joseph (June 8, 2010). "Strasburg strikes out 14 in impressive debut". NBC Sports. AP. Retrieved June 9, 2010.
  26. ^ Gonzalez, Alden (June 9, 2010). "Thrill on the Hill: Strasburg wows". MLB.com. Retrieved June 9, 2010.
  27. ^ "MLB.com: Gameday". MLB.com. June 8, 2010. Retrieved June 8, 2010.
  28. ^ Santo, Michael (June 9, 2010). "Nats Pitcher Stephen Strasburg Hits 100 MPH in Major League Debut". HULIQ.com. Retrieved June 13, 2010.
  29. ^ Kercheval, Nancy (June 19, 2010). "White Sox Defeat Nationals 2-1; Rookie Strasburg Sets MLB Pitching Record". Bloomberg. Retrieved June 20, 2010.
  30. ^ Steinberg, Dan (June 15, 2010). "Strasburg's Sports Illustrated cover". DC Sports Bog. The Washington Post. Retrieved June 15, 2010.
  31. ^ "Stephen Strasburg, Washington Nationals".
  32. ^ http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2009/writers/lee_jenkins/03/25/stephen.strasburg/1.html
  33. ^ Sheinin, Dave. Strasburg finally signs... a marriage license, The Washington Post. Published January 21, 2010. Retrieved June 9, 2010.
  34. ^ Standing room only for Stephen Strasburg's Washington Nationals debut, ESPN. Published June 8, 2010. Retrived June 9, 2010.
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Preceded by First overall pick in the MLB Entry Draft
2009 		Succeeded by
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