H/W: 6-5 215 lb. B/T: R/R DOB: 7/20/88
The #1 overall pick by the Washington Nationals has enjoyed a meteoric ascent to superstardom since breaking into the Majors. He has likewise taken the baseball card hobby by storm like few others before him. Strasburg's dominated collegiate hitters last season pitching to an 8-3 record with a 1.57 ERA and a stunning 16 BB/133 K in just 97.1 IP. For his efforts, Strasburg was awarded a roster spot on the US Olympic Team where he rapidly became their ace, pitching to a 1-1 record with a 1.64 ERA. Strasburg's stuff is legendary. A fastball that regularly crosses the 100 MPH threshold and has been clocked as high as 103 MPH. Unlike many high velocity fastballs, Strasburg's moves like a cutter at times, which is virtually unheard of for balls thrown at that velocity. Accompanying that heat is a filthy slider that has a two plane break and sits between 88-90 MPH. Not far behind is his rapidly developing changeup that, as it stands now, is an MLB average pitch. Contrary to many young flamethrowers, Strasburg has pinpoint control and a highly developed sense of how to pitch. He was an honor student in high school and has worked diligently to get his once soft body into the peak condition that it is now. His heightened work ethic is the determining factor to his meteoric ascent from pudgy underachiever to best pitching prospect, perhaps, of all time.
2009 Projection: Strasburg has not let up an ounce this season, as he is 4-0 with a 1.57 ERA and a record shattering 19.4 K/9 IP. There is no doubt that he is the #1 prospect of the 2009 draft, but Scott Boras has already sunk his meaty claws into him and is rumored to be seeking an MLB deal in excess of $50 million and a $15 million signing bonus. Those demands alone may cause for him to slip from the top spot as the spectre of other elite flame throwers like Mark Prior, Matt Anderson, Joel Zumaya, and Mark Wohlers could evoke fear into some cost-conscious clubs. However, all indicators point to Strasburg being a major league ready, top of the rotation superstar who will anchor a rotation in Cy Young fashion for years to come.
Stephen Strasburg Baseball Cards:
I recently came across a really cool site that has a full Stephen Strasburg rookie card checklist so would recommend checking that out. But here are a few of my personal favorites, all of which are Upper Deck USA creations:
- 2008 UD USA Baseball Auto (serial #'s vary)
- 2008 UD Timeline Auto
- 2008 SP Authentic By the Letter Auto #/105
 2011 Bowman #179 Stephen Strasburg Nationals $1.00 |
 2011 Bowman Finest Futures #FF23 Stephen Strasburg Nationals $1.00 |
 2011 Bowman Gold #179 Stephen Strasburg Nationals $1.00 |
 2011 Finest #59 Stephen Strasburg Nationals $1.00 |
 2011 Topps #10 Stephen Strasburg Nationals $1.00 |
 2011 Topps #183 Stephen Strasburg CUP Nationals $1.00 |
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