Matt Strahm

Matthew Scott Strahm (born November 12, 1991) is an American professional baseball pitcher for the San Diego Padres of Major League Baseball (MLB). He made his MLB debut for the Kansas City Royals in 2016. In 2019, he was the only MLB player born in North Dakota.[1]

Matt Strahm
Strahm with the San Diego Padres in 2018
San Diego Padres – No. 55
Pitcher
Born: (1991-11-12) November 12, 1991
West Fargo, North Dakota
Bats: Right Throws: Left
MLB debut
July 31, 2016, for the Kansas City Royals
MLB statistics
(through September 5, 2020)
Win–loss record13–23
Earned run average3.73
Strikeouts266
Teams

Career

Strahm attended West Fargo High School in West Fargo, North Dakota. He played for the school's baseball team as a pitcher, considering himself to be the third-best pitcher on his team. Attending a tryout at the University of Kansas, he caught the attention of a coach from the college baseball team of Neosho County Community College.[2] In 2012, he pitched to a 9–3 win-loss record and a 1.48 earned run average (ERA), helping the Neosho County Panthers reach the 2012 National Junior College Athletic Association World Series.[3] After two seasons with Neosho, he committed to transfer to the University of Nebraska–Lincoln.[2]

Kansas City Royals

The Kansas City Royals selected Strahm in the 21st round, with the 643rd overall selection, of the 2012 MLB draft.[4][5] He signed with the Royals, receiving a $100,000 signing bonus,[6] rather than transfer to Nebraska. He made his professional debut with the Idaho Falls Chukars of the Rookie-level Pioneer League. Strahm required Tommy John surgery during the 2013 season to repair damage to the ulnar collateral ligament in his left elbow.[2] He missed most of the 2014 season, throwing only ​19 1⁄3 innings for Idaho Falls.[7] In 2015, he pitched for the Lexington Legends of the Class A South Atlantic League (SAL) and Wilmington Blue Rocks of the Class A-Advanced Carolina League.[2] He was named a SAL All-Star.[8] Between the two teams, he recorded 121 strikeouts in 94 innings pitched.[3] The Royals added him to their 40-man roster after the 2015 season to protect him from the Rule 5 draft.[9][10] He began the 2016 season with the Northwest Arkansas Naturals of the Class AA Texas League.[3] He had a 3.43 ERA and 107 strikeouts in ​102 1⁄3 innings pitched through the end of July.[11]

When Wade Davis went on the disabled list, the Royals promoted Strahm to the major leagues on July 31, 2016.[12] He made his MLB debut that day.[13] Though most of his minor league experience was as a starting pitcher, the Royals deployed Strahm as a relief pitcher for the remainder of the 2016 season in order to not increase the number of innings thrown from the 2015 season by too many.[7][14]

At the end of the 2016 season, the Royals indicated that Strahm would compete for a spot in their starting rotation during spring training in 2017.[15] However, after acquiring Nate Karns, Travis Wood, and Jason Hammel, Ned Yost, the Royals' manager, announced at the start of spring training that Strahm would be a reliever in 2017.[16] Strahm made 24 appearances, 3 starts for the Royals in 2017 before being shut down for the season with a torn patellar tendon in his left knee.

San Diego Padres

On July 24, 2017, the Royals traded Strahm, Travis Wood, and Esteury Ruiz to the San Diego Padres for Trevor Cahill, Ryan Buchter, and Brandon Maurer.[17] In 2018, he posted an ERA of 2.05 in 41 games (5 starts). He had 69 strikeouts in ​61 1⁄3 innings. Strahm began the 2019 season as a starter, he started 16 games before being moved to the bullpen. Overall, Strahm finished with a record of 6-11 in 46 games, he struck out 118 in ​114 2⁄3 innings. The following season, Strahm pitched mainly out of the bullpen, appearing in 19 games in ​20 2⁄3 innings.

Personal life

Strahm married his wife, Megan, who also attended Neosho County Community College, in Chanute, Kansas, in September 2015.[6][18] His brother, Ben, played college baseball at Cowley Community College and was signed by the San Francisco Giants in 2018. He also has a sister, Britta.[7] Strahm owns a YouTube Channel, depicting his baseball life and opening packs of baseball cards.

Strahm grew up a Minnesota Twins fan.[19]

References
  1. "MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL PLAYERS BORN IN NORTH DAKOTA / PLAYED IN 2019". Basebal Almanac.
  2. "How two years in Kansas helped build Royals left-hander Matt Strahm into a prospect". Retrieved January 9, 2017.
  3. "Strahm taking things day by day in the minors". Retrieved January 9, 2017.
  4. http://www.inforum.com/content/kansas-city-royals-draft-west-fargos-strahm
  5. "Matt Strahm signs with Royals". Retrieved January 9, 2017.
  6. "Marriage in the Minor Leagues". Retrieved January 9, 2017.
  7. "Matt Strahm and the changing Royals' worldview". Retrieved January 9, 2017.
  8. "Former West Fargo standout Matt Strahm named a South Atlantic..." Retrieved January 9, 2017.
  9. "Royals add Kyle Zimmer and Bubba Starling to 40-man roster". Retrieved January 9, 2017.
  10. "Former Panther gets added to Royals roster". Retrieved January 9, 2017.
  11. "West Fargo's Matt Strahm gets call to join Kansas City Royal..." Retrieved January 9, 2017.
  12. "Wade Davis goes back on DL, Royals recall Matt Strahm - FOX Sports". July 31, 2016. Retrieved January 9, 2017.
  13. "North Dakota's Matt Strahm making big splash in big leagues". Archived from the original on January 9, 2017. Retrieved January 9, 2017.
  14. "Strahm making the most of the promotion". Retrieved January 9, 2017.
  15. "A revelation in relief, rookie Matt Strahm will get opportunity to start next spring". Retrieved January 9, 2017.
  16. Dodd, Rustin (February 14, 2017). "HDH era is over, but Royals still believe they can build a shutdown bullpen". Kansas City Star. Retrieved February 14, 2017.
  17. Jul 24, San Diego Padres FOX Sports San Diego; ET, 2017 at 6:55p (July 24, 2017). "Padres acquire Strahm and Wood from Royals". FOX Sports. Retrieved May 2, 2019.
  18. http://www.inforum.com/celebrations/3843013-lester-strahm
  19. https://www.thedickinsonpress.com/sports/4123621-north-dakotas-matt-strahm-making-big-splash-big-leagues
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