Stephen Strasburg is the Next Superstar in Baseball

21 year old Stephen Strasburg was just an overweight pitcher for the San Diego State University Aztecs in 2007. He was an above average pitcher who was throwing in the very low 90's. After getting himself in shape and ready for his sophomore season, Strasburg went 8-3 with a 1.57 ERA, 133 K's in only 97 1/3 innings. That's an average of 1.5 K's per inning. He struck out 23 batters in one game against the University of Utah in one of those games, which was a Mountain West Conference Record. Strasburg's 2009 season was even better if you can imagine that with a record of 13-1, ERA of 1.32, 195 K's in 109 innings (which is very close to 2 K's per inning on average) and giving up 59 hits on the season. His last appearance as an Aztec on May 8th, 2009 was a no hitter against Air Force where he struck out 17 batters in a game.

Now, after being the number 1 draft pick in the 2009 Major League Baseball Draft and signed a 4 year contract of 15.1 Million dollars (which was a record for any draft pick), he made his debut as a Washington National and the power to throw 100 mph.

Strasburg made his major-league debut on June 8, 2010, against the Pittsburgh Pirates. Stephen was supposed to go 6 innings or have a pitch count of 90 pitches. He ended up throwing more pitches and more innings because he was throwing so well. He is the first pitcher in major league history to debut with over ten K's (14)and not allowing a walk. Talk about incredible command of his pitches. Strasburg has command of 4 pitches: a two seam fastball, a four seam fastball, a change up, and a curve ball. He did let up a lucky two run homer but he didn't let that stop him from setting a team record of 14 K's in a game since the nationals moved back to DC. He also tied the record this season so far for K's in a game (14).

His performance was truly dominating and inspiring. He surpassed the hype and made every baseball fan young or old giddy, like a child going to their first baseball game. Stephen Strasburg is a once in a lifetime player that will be remembered forever if he stays healthy. He has the potential to be the next Nolan Ryan and probably set new records statistically as well as monetary (He will probably be signed for an absurd amount when his contract is up.) He is now baseball's golden child like Derek Jeter was for so many years.

I am buying tickets to the Nats game when he comes to Philly July 30th, 31st, and August 1st to see him pitch live (I hope his spot in the rotation is then).