Hype Became Reality

On Tuesday I mentioned pitching phenom Stephen Strasburg debuting for the Washington Nationals. Here is the story from Reuters the next day....

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Stephen Strasburg lived up to his billing in a much-anticipated major league debut with the Washington Nationals on Tuesday as the 2009 top draft pick struck out 14 batters to help his team to a 5-2 victory.

In one of the most talked about Major League Baseball debuts in years, the 21-year-old right-hander retired nine of the first 10 Pittsburgh batters he faced in front of a standing room-only crowd at Nationals Park.

Strasburg, who mixes a high-velocity fastball with good off-speed pitches, allowed just four hits and did not walk a Pittsburgh batter. He also struck out the final seven batters he faced before being taken out of the game.

It was the most strikeouts in a debut by a rookie since J. R. Richard fanned 15 in 1971.

A great debut- but after reading the book High Heat  it will take a lot more than a great debut to make Stephen Strasburg a bona fide star. That and years of consistent results. And don't forget good health and luck. It may be interesting to watch.

He's scheduled to pitch again on June 13 in Cleveland.