The Book on Stephen Strasburg

Prospect Info

Stephen Strasburg
Born 7/20/1988
RHP, WAS

One of the best college pitchers of any class in memory, righthander Stephen Strasburg mixes a high-90's (and low-100's) fastball with a highly-effective slider/curve for a devastating 1-2 punch. He wasn't a strikeout pitcher early in his college career, instead focusing on pitching to contact, but his K rate has been rising steadily since 2007. A few experts are concerned about his delivery, but it's important to take that with a big grain of salt: there was also a choir united about Mark Prior's 'perfect' mechanics, once, too.

While his college coach (Tony Gwynn) claims he's 'special' and could pitch in MLB immediately, most scouts would prefer he spend at least half a season in the minors before taking on the bright lights with his 103mph heat and 'ungodly breaking stuff'. There's an expectation that Washington will hold him back to avoid hurting his impending MLB career, but no matter how long they hold him down in the minors, this is a pitcher with several Cy Youngs and a couple of Stephen Strasburgs in his future.

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Player Updates and Notes

Stephen Strasburg will have Tommy John surgery this Friday. The phenom's rookie season ends on a disappointing note, but given the success rate of young TJ pitchers in recent years (Josh Johnson and Francisco Liriano have both regained elite status, for example) he shouldn't fall very far on anyone's list for 2012.

9/2/2010 by BallGrrrl

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The Nationals announced that Stephen Strasburg's recent MRI showed 'a significant tear' in the pitcher's UCL, which almost certainly means Tommy John surgery is coming shortly. Neither Strasburg nor Nationals' ticket sales will be back at full strength until 2012, though on the upside, the improved version of Strasburg will come with a near-unbreakable elbow at that time.

8/27/2010 by PeeWee

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Stephen Strasburg suffered his second loss as a major leaguer last night, as his defense and then his relief corps let him down with a botched double play that loaded the bases, followed by a full-scale bullpen collapse. All of Strasburg's runners ended up charged to his ledger. He struck out seven Braves, including six in a row, however, and remains a strong bet going forward.

6/29/2010 by KDaddy

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And that's why he's the best prospect of 2010: Stephen Strasburg struck out 14 in his MLB debut, dominating the Pittsburgh Pirates. His only real mistake was a 2-run homer to Delwyn Young on a hanging changeup. Strasburg's vaunted fastball broke 100mph on the stadium radar gun nine times, including once in his seventh and final inning of work, but it was his tight slider/curve that made hitters look especially bad. We think he's ready for MLB now.

6/8/2010 by KDaddy

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Stephen Strasburg threw 89 pitches over five scoreless innings for a win in his final start for AAA Syracuse on Thursday. In 11 career minor league starts, Strasburg collected a 1.30 ERA and a sparkling 65 strikeouts in 55 innings. He is scheduled for a callup in order to start Tuesday's game for the Nationals against the Pirates.

6/3/2010 by KDaddy

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The Washington Nationals have announced that phenom Stephen Strasburg will make his Major League debut on Tuesday, June 8th, at home against the Pittsburgh Pirates. Coincidentally (or not), this is one full year after his selection as the first overall pick in the 2009 First Year Player Draft, and one day after veteran catcher Ivan Rodriguez is scheduled to return to the Nationals from the disabled list. The Nationals' signing of Rodriguez this winter was widely seen as a move to assist the Nats very young pitching staff with their major league development.

6/1/2010 by KDaddy

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In his second AAA start, Stephen Strasburg threw six no-hit innings on exactly 80 pitches before being lifted from the game. Still working on a pitch count, Strasburg hasn't been stopped by anything else yet this season. It's time for Nats fans to start a countdown.

5/13/2010 by KDaddy

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Stephen Strasburg was dominant in his first AAA start. Going six innings for the first time in his professional career, Strasburg needed only 65 pitches to one-hit the Gwinnett Braves in front of the largest crowd in the history Alliance Bank Stadium. He struck out six and walked one batter. Every ball in play was a ground ball; the Braves failed to hit a single fly ball.

5/8/2010 by KDaddy

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Stephen Strasburg, making his fifth and probably final AA start for Harrisburg, gave up three earned runs in five innings of work, taking the loss as the Senators fell to the Curve. Strasburg appears likely to be promoted to AAA Syracuse this week. If so, his AA career ends with a 1.64 ERA, and he looks to be on a June trajectory to the Majors.

5/2/2010 by KDaddy

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Stephen Strasburg won his minor league debut today, using 82 pitches to complete five innings of work for AA Harrisburg, and surrendering only one first-inning earned run to the home-town Altoona Curve. He struck out eight, with his vaunted fastball averaging 98mph and touching 100 on occasion. He threw a dozen curve balls with 'amazing snap' according to one of the many opposing scouts on hand, and salted his own reputation with an RBI double, his first professional base hit.

4/12/2010 by KDaddy

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Stephen Strasburg gave up a couple of solo home runs today, but after nine full innings of work this spring he's still sporting only that same 2.00 ERA. He's struck out 12 hitters and walked only one. He's still destined to begin the season in the minors, but since everyone now realizes he can blow away major league hitters, it's looking like it'll be impossible for the Nationals to keep him there for long.

3/19/2010 by KDaddy

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According to the Washington Post, Stephen Strasburg has earned the nickname 'Jesus' in Nationals camp this spring. Why Jesus? 'Cause what's the first thing you say when you see him pitch?' explained centerfielder Nyjer Morgan. 'Jeee-sus!'

2/23/2010 by BallGrrrl

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