How does one live up to impossible expectations? When no matter how well you do, there is a sense you should have done even better.
That’s the challenge Stephen Strasburg has faced for a decade.
But 10 years since his anointment as the greatest draft prospect ever, Strasburg is at peace with the career he’s had.
“I think it’s pretty obvious that the expectations that people had for me from early on were a little insane,” Strasburg said. “And I think you just become more comfortable with yourself, more comfortable with the results, and you set yourself to your own standards. Those are always going to be more important than what others think you should be doing.”
It’s been 10 years since the Nationals drafted Strasburg first overall in 2009 out of San Diego State. He was supposed to be a perennial Cy Young Award contender, the ace of aces, a modern-day Tom Seaver or Roger Clemens.
Strasburg, now 31, has been none of those things. And yet, to label him a disappointment would not be quite correct, either.
As the 2010s come to a close, Strasburg has been one of the best pitchers of the decade. Among starters with at least 1,000 innings, he ranks among the top 10 with a 3.17 ERA, a 1.09 WHIP, 10.6 strikeouts per nine innings and a .222 opponent average. He is a three-time all-star, owns a strikeout title in 2014 and led the National League in wins and innings this season.
Strasburg has been especially dominant when the stakes are highest, delivering a 1.34 ERA over 47 innings in his first eight postseason appearances.
هذه القصة مأخوذة من طبعة November 2019 من Baseball America.
ابدأ النسخة التجريبية المجانية من Magzter GOLD لمدة 7 أيام للوصول إلى آلاف القصص المتميزة المنسقة وأكثر من 9,000 مجلة وصحيفة.
بالفعل مشترك ? تسجيل الدخول
هذه القصة مأخوذة من طبعة November 2019 من Baseball America.
ابدأ النسخة التجريبية المجانية من Magzter GOLD لمدة 7 أيام للوصول إلى آلاف القصص المتميزة المنسقة وأكثر من 9,000 مجلة وصحيفة.
بالفعل مشترك? تسجيل الدخول
THE SERVICE TIME CONUNDRUM
MLB’s byzantine service time rules cloud rookie status and now PPI eligibility
LUIS TIANT WAS MLB'S MOST SUCCESSFUL CUBAN PITCHER
On a scouting trip to Cuba in 1957, Bobby Avila discovered 16-year-old righthander Luis Tiant on the island's Juvenile League all-star team.
ORGANIZATION REPORT
Outfielder Heston Kjerstad's career has been unique, to say the least.
TOP 10 NL EAST
From the moment Thomas White stepped on a high school mound, he was viewed as the top lefthander available in the 2023 draft.
PREPARATION PAYS OFF
lowa politician J.D. Scholten makes a surprising return to pro ball at age 44
MAKING THE GRADE
Assessing the future value of graduated National League prospects
TOP 10 NL WEST
Even in high school, Bryce Eldridge could hit the ball a mile. The 6-foot-7 righthander could also touch 96 mph off the mound.
Wood Has Towering Upside- Nationals rookie James Wood also stands 6-foot-7 and also has game-changing power.
Aaron Judge and Oneil Cruz are 6-foot7 sluggers who stand out for their power in this year’s MLB Best Tools voting. Wood spent half of this season with Triple-A Rochester before making his MLB debut on July 1. While he was in the International League, he captured managers’ attention. Wood unanimously won Best Power Prospect and also claimed Most Exciting Player in a survey of league skippers. Wood hit .353/.463/.595 with 10 home runs in 52 games for Rochester. His .242 isolated slugging was the best for a player 21 or younger at Triple-A this season.
ROAD BLOCK?
Scholarship expansion puts mid-majors at a major disadvantage on the road to Omaha
ROYALS REVIVAL
A revamped and rejuvenated farm system has Kansas City ready to rebound