Duke's Marcus Stroman via Marc Kirsch
Duke junior ace Marcus Stroman was selected by the Toronto Blue Jays with the 22nd pick in the MLB Draft. He is the first ever first round pick out of Duke.
Baseball America’s Jim Callis was shocked that Stroman stayed on the board so long. He has two big league pitches (fastball, slider) NOW. If he moves back to the bullpen, Callis believed that Stroman can help a Major League team THIS year (similar to Chicago’s Chris Sale the year he was drafted). This is what the analysts on MLB Network were discussing just seconds before Commissioner Bud Selig made the announcement.
Some scouts believe that Stroman can be to the Blue Jays what Francisco Rodriguez (K-Rod) was to the Angels in 2002 (only the Blue Jays need to make the playoffs).
I live in the Northeast, so I am hoping that Stroman makes a stop with the New Hampshire Fishercats in his ascent to the big leagues in the near future.
*Fellow ACC player James Ramsey of Florida State was drafted with the next pick by St. Louis. Clemson third baseman Richie Shaffer went to the TB Rays with the 25th pick.
