That Stephen Strasburg rookie card may be actually worth that $16,000 in the next few weeks, as the Nationals are reportedly looking at promoting him to the big show for his first big league start.
According to the official team website, the Nationals are looking at giving the rookie his first start somewhere between June 8 and 10 at home against the Pittsburgh Pirates.
The information was given to the Nationals’ website by an anonymous team source, but the Nationals were not willing to confirm anything just yet.
“We’re talking about when this young man is going to come up and pitch for us,” Nationals manager Jim Riggleman told The Washington Post. “We can know that right up until the moment that we name him to pitch, but we’re not going to announce that. There’s procedural things. There’s other players affected by it. There’s just too many reasons not to announce it. So we’re not going to announce anything.”
Strasburg, last year’s first overall pick, has been nothing short of dominant in the minors. During his tenure at Double-A Harrisburg and Triple-A Syracuse, he has penned a masterful record of 6-1 with a 0.99 ERA in 45 1/3 innings, striking out 54 and only walking 10. It’s obvious that Strasburg, 21, doesn’t have much left to prove.
Nationals center fielder Nyjer Morgan, who nicknamed the phenom “Jesus,” is ready to see Strasburg dominate.
“This kid is a monster. He is a special breed,” Morgan told the Nationals’ team site. “I’m fired up that he will face my former team. I just want to see him pitch really good against them. He is going to bring an energy that we haven’t had before here. It’s something I’m looking forward to.”
Whatever the date, Washington is ready for Strasburg to take over and take them to a promised land that is more than just a .500 record.
