Stephen Strasburg
Encyclopedia
Stephen James Strasburg ' onMouseout='HidePop("2365")' href="/topics/California">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 93 seconds before the deadline in 2001. He was called the "most-hyped pick in draft history" by ESPN
and the "most hyped and closely watched pitching prospect in the history of baseball" by Sports Illustrated
.
at San Diego State University
, Strasburg went 8–3 with a 1.58 earned run average
and 134 strikeouts
s in 98⅓ inning
s for the San Diego State Aztecs. Four of his thirteen starts in 2008 were complete games, two of which were shutouts. On April 11 of that year, he struck out a Mountain West Conference record 23 batters in a game versus the University of Utah
.
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
. In his final home start on May 8, 2009, Strasburg threw his first career no-hitter while striking out 17 Air Force
batters. 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.
In the summer of 2007, Strasburg also played for the Torrington Twisters of the NECBL where he was awarded as the 2007 Top Pro Prospect, 2007 Top Relief Pitcher, and to the 2007 NECBL First Team as a closer.
team at the 2008 Summer Olympics
in Beijing
. He had previously pitched for the USA Baseball National Team (College).
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.
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
.
for the Phoenix Desert Dogs
in the Arizona Fall League
at Phoenix Municipal Stadium
, which is in Phoenix, Arizona.
Before the 2010 season started, Baseball America named Strasburg as the top pitching prospect (#2 overall behind Atlanta Braves outfielder
Jason Heyward
) in baseball.
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, and ESPN
nationally broadcast portions of the game (only the half-innings in which Strasburg was pitching). 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. 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. That game had the highest attendance in the 135-year history of baseball in Syracuse. In his second start, Strasburg was removed after pitching six no-hit innings. 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.
. A Sports Illustrated
columnist termed it "the most hyped pitching debut the game has ever seen." 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. 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. (Bob Feller
also struck out 15 in his first start, although it wasn't his big league debut). Strasburg's first career strikeout was of former National Lastings Milledge
. He struck out every batter in the Pirates' lineup at least once and struck out the last seven batters he faced—also a Nationals record. He threw 34 of his 94 pitches at 98 miles per hour (157.7 km/h) or faster, including two that clocked 100 miles per hour (160.9 km/h).
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.
Strasburg was also featured in the cover story of Sports Illustrated
following his second start.
Strasburg was placed on the disabled list with an inflamed right shoulder in July 2010. He returned to action on August 10, but in his third game back, on August 21, he was removed with an apparent injury. On August 27, the Nationals announced that Strasburg had a torn ulnar collateral ligament
, requiring Tommy John surgery
, and about 12 to 18 months of rehabilitation.
In the 2010 season Strasburg pitched in 12 games, all starts, throwing 68 innings, 92 strikeouts and compiling a 2.91 ERA. He was named a pitcher on the 2010 Topps
Major League Rookie All-Star Team
.
Strasburg made his first rehab start on August 7, 2011 for the Hagerstown Suns
. He made his first Major League start of 2011 against the Los Angeles Dodgers
on September 6th, going 5 full innings, giving up two hits, striking out 4 (all swinging) and no runs on 53 pitches. After giving up a leadoff hit to Dee Gordon, Strasburg retired 11 straight batters.
, the son of Kathleen Swett, a dietitian
, and Jim Strasburg, a real estate developer. He credits his maternal grandmother with helping him develop his baseball skills as a child. She would frequently play catch and even work on pitching with him. He labels her as one of his biggest inspirations. He was married on January 9, 2010, to Rachel Lackey.
as his primary pitch that moves in on right-handed hitters, a four-seam fastball
, a curveball
/slider
that Strasburg himself refers to as a slurve
, and a circle changeup
.
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
) is a right-handed pitcher for the Washington Nationals
Washington Nationals
The Washington Nationals are a professional baseball team based in Washington, D.C. The Nationals are a member of the Eastern Division of the National League of Major League Baseball . The team moved into the newly built Nationals Park in 2008, after playing their first three seasons in RFK Stadium...
, who selected him with the first pick in the 2009 Major League Baseball Draft
2009 Major League Baseball Draft
The 2009 Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft was held June 9 to June 11 at the MLB Network Studios in New York City.The drafting order is as follows:-First-round selections:Key-Supplemental first-round selections:From Baseball America...
. 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
Mark Prior
Mark William Prior is an American professional baseball pitcher in the New York Yankees organization. He pitched for the Chicago Cubs from 2002-2006. His repertoire of pitches includes a low to mid 90s fastball, a curveball, a slurve, and a changeup.-Amateur career:Prior graduated from the...
, who had signed 93 seconds before the deadline in 2001. He was called the "most-hyped pick in draft history" by ESPN
ESPN
Entertainment and Sports Programming Network, commonly known as ESPN, is an American global cable television network focusing on sports-related programming including live and pre-taped event telecasts, sports talk shows, and other original programming....
and the "most hyped and closely watched pitching prospect in the history of baseball" by Sports Illustrated
Sports Illustrated
Sports Illustrated is an American sports media company owned by media conglomerate Time Warner. Its self titled magazine has over 3.5 million subscribers and is read by 23 million adults each week, including over 18 million men. It was the first magazine with circulation over one million to win the...
.
San Diego State
In 2008, as a sophomoreSophomore
Sophomore is a term used in the United States to describe a student in the second year of study at high school or university.The word is also used as a synonym for "second", for the second album or EP released by a musician or group, the second movie of a director, or the second season of a...
at San Diego State University
San Diego State University
San Diego State University , founded in 1897 as San Diego Normal School, is the largest and oldest higher education facility in the greater San Diego area , and is part of the California State University system...
, Strasburg went 8–3 with a 1.58 earned run average
Earned run average
In baseball statistics, earned run average is the mean of earned runs given up by a pitcher per nine innings pitched. It is determined by dividing the number of earned runs allowed by the number of innings pitched and multiplying by nine...
and 134 strikeouts
s in 98⅓ inning
Inning
Inning is a municipality in the district of Erding in Bavaria in Germany....
s for the San Diego State Aztecs. Four of his thirteen starts in 2008 were complete games, two of which were shutouts. On April 11 of that year, he struck out a Mountain West Conference record 23 batters in a game versus the University of Utah
University of Utah
The University of Utah, also known as the U or the U of U, is a public, coeducational research university in Salt Lake City, Utah, United States. The university was established in 1850 as the University of Deseret by the General Assembly of the provisional State of Deseret, making it Utah's oldest...
.
Strasburg finished the 2009 season 13–1 with a 1.32 ERA, 59 hits allowed, 16 earned runs, 19 walks
Base on balls
A base on balls is credited to a batter and against a pitcher in baseball statistics when a batter receives four pitches that the umpire calls balls. It is better known as a walk. The base on balls is defined in Section 2.00 of baseball's Official Rules, and further detail is given in 6.08...
, and 195 strikeouts in 109 innings pitched
Innings pitched
In baseball, innings pitched are the number of innings a pitcher has completed, measured by the number of batters and baserunners that are put out while the pitcher on the pitching mound in a game. Three outs made is equal to one inning pitched. One out counts as one-third of an inning, and two...
. In his final home start on May 8, 2009, Strasburg threw his first career no-hitter while striking out 17 Air Force
Air Force Falcons
The Air Force Falcons are the collegiate athletic teams that represent the United States Air Force Academy, near Colorado Springs, Colorado. The intercollegiate program has 17 men's and 10 women's NCAA-sanctioned teams...
batters. His lone loss came against the Virginia Cavaliers
Virginia Cavaliers baseball
The Virginia Cavaliers baseball team represents the University of Virginia in NCAA Division I college baseball. Established in 1889, the team participates in the Coastal division of the Atlantic Coast Conference and plays its home games at Davenport Field. There was discussion at one time to...
in the NCAA Regionals as Virginia advanced toward the College World Series
College World Series
The College World Series or CWS is an annual baseball tournament held in Omaha, Nebraska that is the culmination of the NCAA Division I Baseball Championship, which determines the NCAA Division I college baseball champion. The eight teams are split into two, four-team, double-elimination brackets,...
, but he still struck out 15 in seven innings during the loss.
In the summer of 2007, Strasburg also played for the Torrington Twisters of the NECBL where he was awarded as the 2007 Top Pro Prospect, 2007 Top Relief Pitcher, and to the 2007 NECBL First Team as a closer.
International play
Strasburg was the lone collegiate player selected for the U.S. BaseballUnited States national baseball team
The United States National Baseball team represents the United States in international baseball competition. The United States has won the previous two Baseball World Cups, having lost this title to the Netherlands in 2011, and is currently second in the IBAF World Rankings, behind Cuba.The team...
team at the 2008 Summer Olympics
2008 Summer Olympics
The 2008 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XXIX Olympiad, was a major international multi-sport event that took place in Beijing, China, from August 8 to August 24, 2008. A total of 11,028 athletes from 204 National Olympic Committees competed in 28 sports and 302 events...
in Beijing
Beijing
Beijing , also known as Peking , is the capital of the People's Republic of China and one of the most populous cities in the world, with a population of 19,612,368 as of 2010. The city is the country's political, cultural, and educational center, and home to the headquarters for most of China's...
. He had previously pitched for the USA Baseball National Team (College).
In his first start at the Olympics, Strasburg one-hit the Netherlands
Netherlands national baseball team
The Netherlands national baseball team is the national baseball team of the Netherlands. They are currently the top team in Europe and currently the sixth ranked men's baseball team in the IBAF World Rankings....
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
Sharnol Adriana
Sharnol Leonard Adriana is a Dutch baseball player.-Early years:Adriana began his professional baseball career after being taken in the 15th round of the 1991 MLB Draft by the Toronto Blue Jays. The Blue Jays assigned him to their St. Catharines Blue Jays farm team, where he hit .206-.311-.341 as...
. 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
Davey Johnson
David Allen "Davey" Johnson is an American Major League Baseball player and current manager of the Washington Nationals. He was the starting second baseman for the Baltimore Orioles when they won four American League pennants and two World Series championships between 1965 and 1972...
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
Norge Luis Vera
Norge Luis Vera Peralta is a right-handed baseball pitcher, who has been a frequent member of the Cuban national baseball team....
. 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
Japan national baseball team
The Japan national baseball team is the national baseball team representing Japan in international competitions. They are one of the more successful baseball teams in the world, having won the World Baseball Classic in 2006 and 2009...
8–4.
Draft
On June 9, 2009, Strasburg was drafted number one overall in the 2009 Major League Baseball Draft2009 Major League Baseball Draft
The 2009 Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft was held June 9 to June 11 at the MLB Network Studios in New York City.The drafting order is as follows:-First-round selections:Key-Supplemental first-round selections:From Baseball America...
by the Washington Nationals
Washington Nationals
The Washington Nationals are a professional baseball team based in Washington, D.C. The Nationals are a member of the Eastern Division of the National League of Major League Baseball . The team moved into the newly built Nationals Park in 2008, after playing their first three seasons in RFK Stadium...
. 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
Scott Boras
Scott Boras is an American sports agent, specializing in baseball. He is the founder, owner and president of the Boras Corporation, a sports agency based in Newport Beach, Calif. that represents roughly 175 professional baseball clients, including many of the game's highest-profile players...
.
Minor leagues
Strasburg made his professional debut on October 16, 2009, startingStarting pitcher
In baseball or softball, a starting pitcher is the pitcher who delivers the first pitch to the first batter of a game. A pitcher who enters the game after the first pitch of the game is a relief pitcher....
for the Phoenix Desert Dogs
Phoenix Desert Dogs
The Phoenix Desert Dogs are a baseball team that plays in the East Division of the Arizona Fall League located in Phoenix, Arizona. They play their home games at Phoenix Municipal Stadium, the spring training home of the Oakland Athletics...
in the Arizona Fall League
Arizona Fall League
The Arizona Fall League is an off-season league owned and operated by Major League Baseball which operates during the fall in Arizona, United States at five spring training complexes...
at Phoenix Municipal Stadium
Phoenix Municipal Stadium
Phoenix Municipal Stadium is a baseball stadium, located in Phoenix, Arizona. The stadium was built in 1964 and holds 8,775 people. It is the spring training home of the Oakland Athletics and is one of two Spring Training facilities, run by the City of Phoenix...
, which is in Phoenix, Arizona.
Before the 2010 season started, Baseball America named Strasburg as the top pitching prospect (#2 overall behind Atlanta Braves outfielder
Outfielder
Outfielder is a generic term applied to each of the people playing in the three defensive positions in baseball farthest from the batter. These defenders are the left fielder, the center fielder, and the right fielder...
Jason Heyward
Jason Heyward
Jason Alias Heyward , nicknamed J-Hey and J-Hey-Kid, is a Major League Baseball right fielder for the Atlanta Braves. He throws and bats left-handed....
) in baseball.
Strasburg was assigned to the Double-A Harrisburg Senators
Harrisburg Senators
The Harrisburg Senators are a minor league baseball team based in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. The team, which plays in the Eastern League, is the Double-A affiliate of the Washington Nationals....
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, and ESPN
ESPN
Entertainment and Sports Programming Network, commonly known as ESPN, is an American global cable television network focusing on sports-related programming including live and pre-taped event telecasts, sports talk shows, and other original programming....
nationally broadcast portions of the game (only the half-innings in which Strasburg was pitching). He won that debut in Altoona, Pennsylvania
Altoona, Pennsylvania
-History:A major railroad town, Altoona was founded by the Pennsylvania Railroad in 1849 as the site for a shop complex. Altoona was incorporated as a borough on February 6, 1854, and as a city under legislation approved on April 3, 1867, and February 8, 1868...
, versus the Altoona Curve
Altoona Curve
The Altoona Curve are a minor league baseball team based in Altoona, Pennsylvania, named after nearby Horseshoe Curve . The team, which plays in the Eastern League, is the Double-A affiliate of the Pittsburgh Pirates major-league club...
, 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
New Britain Rock Cats
The New Britain Rock Cats are the Double-A minor league baseball affiliate of the Minnesota Twins Major League Baseball club. They compete in the Eastern League and play their home games at New Britain Stadium in New Britain, Connecticut.-History:...
. 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. He completed his Double-A stint with a 1.64 earned run average
Earned run average
In baseball statistics, earned run average is the mean of earned runs given up by a pitcher per nine innings pitched. It is determined by dividing the number of earned runs allowed by the number of innings pitched and multiplying by nine...
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. That game had the highest attendance in the 135-year history of baseball in Syracuse. In his second start, Strasburg was removed after pitching six no-hit innings. 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
Walks plus hits per inning pitched
In baseball statistics, walks plus hits per inning pitched is a sabermetric measurement of the number of baserunners a pitcher has allowed per inning pitched. It is a measure of a pitcher's ability to prevent batters from reaching base...
of 0.80.
Washington Nationals
Strasburg made his major-league debut on June 8, 2010, against the Pittsburgh PiratesPittsburgh Pirates
The Pittsburgh Pirates are a Major League Baseball club based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. They play in the Central Division of the National League, and are five-time World Series Champions...
. A Sports Illustrated
Sports Illustrated
Sports Illustrated is an American sports media company owned by media conglomerate Time Warner. Its self titled magazine has over 3.5 million subscribers and is read by 23 million adults each week, including over 18 million men. It was the first magazine with circulation over one million to win the...
columnist termed it "the most hyped pitching debut the game has ever seen." 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. 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
Karl Spooner
Karl Benjamin Spooner was a Major League Baseball left-handed pitcher....
(1954) and J. R. Richard (1971) both struck out 15, but each took nine innings to do it, and each walked three. (Bob Feller
Bob Feller
On December 8, 1941, Feller enlisted in the Navy, volunteering immediately for combat service, becoming the first Major League Baseball player to do so following the attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7. Feller served as Gun Captain aboard the USS Alabama, and missed four seasons during his service...
also struck out 15 in his first start, although it wasn't his big league debut). Strasburg's first career strikeout was of former National Lastings Milledge
Lastings Milledge
Lastings Darnell Milledge is an American professional baseball outfielder who is a free agent. He was the youngest player in the National League during the 2006 season.-Early life:Milledge was born in Bradenton, Florida...
. He struck out every batter in the Pirates' lineup at least once and struck out the last seven batters he faced—also a Nationals record. He threw 34 of his 94 pitches at 98 miles per hour (157.7 km/h) or faster, including two that clocked 100 miles per hour (160.9 km/h).
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
J.R. Richard
James Rodney Richard is a former right-handed starting pitcher in Major League Baseball who played his entire career, from 1971 to 1980, with the Houston Astros....
, who struck out 29 in his first three starts in 1971.
Strasburg was also featured in the cover story of Sports Illustrated
Sports Illustrated
Sports Illustrated is an American sports media company owned by media conglomerate Time Warner. Its self titled magazine has over 3.5 million subscribers and is read by 23 million adults each week, including over 18 million men. It was the first magazine with circulation over one million to win the...
following his second start.
Strasburg was placed on the disabled list with an inflamed right shoulder in July 2010. He returned to action on August 10, but in his third game back, on August 21, he was removed with an apparent injury. On August 27, the Nationals announced that Strasburg had a torn ulnar collateral ligament
Ulnar collateral ligament
Ulnar collateral ligament can refer to:* Ulnar collateral ligament * Ulnar collateral ligament * Ulnar collateral ligament...
, requiring Tommy John surgery
Tommy John surgery
Tommy John surgery, known in medical practice as ulnar collateral ligament reconstruction, is a surgical procedure in which a ligament in the medial elbow is replaced with a tendon from elsewhere in the body...
, and about 12 to 18 months of rehabilitation.
In the 2010 season Strasburg pitched in 12 games, all starts, throwing 68 innings, 92 strikeouts and compiling a 2.91 ERA. He was named a pitcher on the 2010 Topps
Topps
The Topps Company, Inc., manufactures chewing gum, candy and collectibles. Based in New York, New York, Topps is best known as a leading producer of baseball cards, football cards, basketball cards, hockey cards and other sports and non-sports themed trading cards.-Company history:Topps itself was...
Major League Rookie All-Star Team
Topps All-Star Rookie Rosters
This is a year-by-year list of the Topps All-Star Rookie teams. Note that players selected for a particular team appear in the following year's set release...
.
Strasburg made his first rehab start on August 7, 2011 for the Hagerstown Suns
Hagerstown Suns
The Hagerstown Suns are a Minor League Baseball team based in Hagerstown, Maryland, United States. They play in Municipal Stadium, which was opened in 1930 and seats 4,600 fans....
. He made his first Major League start of 2011 against the Los Angeles Dodgers
Los Angeles Dodgers
The Los Angeles Dodgers are a professional baseball team based in Los Angeles, California. The Dodgers are members of Major League Baseball's National League West Division. Established in 1883, the team originated in Brooklyn, New York, where it was known by a number of nicknames before becoming...
on September 6th, going 5 full innings, giving up two hits, striking out 4 (all swinging) and no runs on 53 pitches. After giving up a leadoff hit to Dee Gordon, Strasburg retired 11 straight batters.
Personal life
Strasburg was born in San Diego, CaliforniaSan Diego, California
San Diego is the eighth-largest city in the United States and second-largest city in California. The city is located on the coast of the Pacific Ocean in Southern California, immediately adjacent to the Mexican border. The birthplace of California, San Diego is known for its mild year-round...
, the son of Kathleen Swett, a dietitian
Dietitian
Dietitians supervise the preparation and service of food, develop modified diets, participate in research, and educate individuals and groups on good nutritional habits. The goals of dietitians are to provide medical nutritional intervention, and to obtain, safely prepare, serve and advise on...
, and Jim Strasburg, a real estate developer. He credits his maternal grandmother with helping him develop his baseball skills as a child. She would frequently play catch and even work on pitching with him. He labels her as one of his biggest inspirations. He was married on January 9, 2010, to Rachel Lackey.
Pitch repertoire
Strasburg's repertoire features four pitches: a two-seam fastballTwo-seam fastball
A two-seam fastball is a pitch in baseball and a variant of the straight fastball. The pitch has the speed of a fastball, but the general movement of a screwball...
as his primary pitch that moves in on right-handed hitters, a four-seam fastball
Four-seam fastball
A four-seam fastball, also called a rising fastball, a four-seamer, or a cross-seam fastball, is a pitch in baseball. It is a member of the fastball family...
, a curveball
Curveball
The curveball is a type of pitch in baseball thrown with a characteristic grip and hand movement that imparts forward spin to the ball causing it to dive in a downward path as it approaches the plate. Its close relatives are the slider and the slurve. The "curve" of the ball varies from pitcher to...
/slider
Slider
In baseball, a slider is a pitch that breaks laterally and down, with a speed between that of a curveball and that of a fastball....
that Strasburg himself refers to as a slurve
Slurve
The slurve is a baseball pitch in which the pitcher throws a slider as if he were throwing a curve ball. The term is a portmanteau of the words "slider" and "curve".-History:...
, and a circle changeup
Circle changeup
In baseball, a circle changeup is a pitch thrown with a grip that includes a circle formation, hence the name. The circle is formed by making a circle with the index finger, holding the thumb at the bottom of the ball parallel to the middle finger and holding the ball far out in the hand...
.
External links
- Washington Post Archives
- Stephen Strasburg 5K Walk and Fun Run Strasburg5K.com