If he was nervous about pitching for the first time for the Washington Nationals, it didn’t show in Stephen Strasburg’s 
spring training debut against the Tigers on Tuesday.
The 21-year-old right hander impressed both his team and the opposing Tigers by throwing two shutout innings, striking out one and allowing just two hits in the two innings he pitched. His fast ball reportedly went no lower than 96, and as high as 100 miles per hour.
The Nationals chose Strasburg as the overall first draft pick in this year’s Player Draft. The 2009 Golden Spikes Award winner signed a $15.1 million four year deal with the Nationals on August 25.
He made his professional debut with the Phoenix Desert Dogs of the Arizona Fall League on October 16. Strasburg was named the 2009 USA Baseball Golden Spikes Award winner last summer. The award is given to the nation’s top amateur baseball player.
Strasburg was the only collegiate player selected to represent the United States Baseball team during the 2008 Summer Games in Beijing, China. In his only start in the Olympics he pitched seven innings striking out five of the fist six batters he faced. He allowed only one run. The game was called after eight innings because of rain.
The 6’4″ 220-pounder throws and bats right. His fast ball has been clocked consistently at 95-97 miles per hour. Strasburg finished the 2009 season 31-1 with a 1.32 ERA for San Diego State University.
He allowed only 59 hits, 15 earned runs, 19 walks and had 195 strikeouts in 109 innings pitched. His first career no hitter came on May 8, 2009, in his final home start against the Air Force. He struck out 17 batters in that game.
In addition to writing her Chicago Cubs column for Examiner.com, Miriam Romain has been published in several Cubs annuals by Maple Street Press and is a contributor to SportsClimax.com . She is also writing a book with the working title “Summers at Wrigley with my Dad.”
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