Future draft pick Strasburg rocks UNLV

April 16, 2009 by Sage Sammons 

Consensus No. 1 pick struck out 13 in last Thursday’s game

Stephen Strasburg blew batters away in his yearly outing in Las Vegas last Thursday.

The boy wonder that can pitch 103 mph stepped into Earl E. Wilson Stadium as a legend.  He is the consensus favorite to be chosen no. 1 in the upcoming MLB draft. He is the reason that more than 1,000 people showed up to watch the San Diego State Aztecs clobber the UNLV Rebels 15-4 last Thursday.  He is Stephen Strasburg.

Strasburg gained attention last year when he pitched for the bronze medal U.S. Olympic team in Beijing.  But all the attention this year is focused on the MLB draft, but don’t ask him about it.

“I’m not even talking about [the draft] right now.  I’m about the team.  We are trying to win a conference title and get to regional,” Strasburg said.

His response was quick and concise, just like his pitches.

Strasburg made easy work of the Rebels, as he struck out 13 of the 25 batters he faced, walked one and allowed seven hits, which only accounted for one run in Strasburg’s six innings.

“We had some opportunities,” UNLV head coach Buddy Gouldsmith said. “You are hoping if you can keep them to four or five runs and get a run or two off (Strasburg) and be in the game when he comes out.  It seemed he got a little stiff late, but you just hope that the game is a little closer so that you can battle against some of their other guys.  If you get three or four [runs] you feel like you accomplished something against him.”

Strasburg’s best inning came in the third when he struck out two and caught Jarred Frierson stealing.  In the sixth, Strasburg’s final inning, the SDSU defense kept the Aztecs from losing control of the game.

Ryan Thornton led off for the Rebels and struck out, but reached first because of a wild pitch. Rance Roundy had the same pitch sequence happen to him, but because first was occupied, Roundy was out, and Thornton was able to steal second. The two wild pitch inning was the end of Strasburg’s night and he openly admitted he didn’t have his “best stuff.”

Whatever you want to call his pitches, it froze the Rebels.

The Aztecs were on cruise control and went on to win the game 15-4. They came back on Friday to beat the Rebels 8-6, but lost in the series finale, 9-6.

What makes Strasburg so great?  Is it the fact that he has a great mentor in the Hall of Fame head coach Tony Gwynn at SDSU?  Is it his ability to throw 103 mph and with such precise location and a ridiculous high 80 mph curveball?  Is it the fact he leads the NCAA Division I in strikeouts? Or could it be his team first mentality?
How about all of the above?

His pitching repertoire is outstanding.  From his 103 mph fast ball to his breaking ball that can reach into the high 80s, he has shown he has the ability to be a big impact on the next level.  His numbers speak for themselves; 107 strikeouts, only two home runs allowed, 7-0 on the year with a 1.49 ERA.

His raw talent is incredible.

So why is this superstar not the ace of the Oregon State or Texas pitching staff?

He was shunned from big programs in high school because people thought he couldn’t control well enough.

That is where his team first mentality comes. He wants to prove everyone wrong by winning.

But some people saw his potential, Gwynn being one, and super agent Scott Boras another.  He will be representing Strasburg in the MLB draft, and trying to get people to cash in on his golden arm.  The Washington Nationals are on the clock and the hometown San Diego Padres sit at the No. 3 spot in the June draft.

But as the consensus No. 1 pick, it’s unlikely Strasburg will make it past the first 15 minutes of the draft.

SDSU may miss him. The Rebels, however, won’t.