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Matt Strahm

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Matt Strahm
Strahm with the San Diego Padres in 2018
Philadelphia Phillies – No. 25
Pitcher
Born: (1991-11-12) November 12, 1991 (age 32)
West Fargo, North Dakota, U.S.
Bats: Right
Throws: Left
MLB debut
July 31, 2016, for the Kansas City Royals
MLB statistics
(through 2024 season)
Win–loss record32–35
Earned run average3.44
Strikeouts512
Teams
Career highlights and awards

Matthew Scott Strahm (/strɑːm/;[1] born November 12, 1991) is an American professional baseball pitcher for the Philadelphia Phillies of Major League Baseball (MLB). He has previously played in MLB for the Kansas City Royals, San Diego Padres and Boston Red Sox. As of the 2024 MLB season, Strahm is one of only two MLB players born in North Dakota, with the other being relief pitcher Erik Swanson of the Toronto Blue Jays.[2]

Career

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Amateur career

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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, Strahm caught the attention of a coach from the college baseball team of Neosho County Community College.[3] 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.[4] After two seasons with Neosho, Strahm committed to transfer to the University of Nebraska–Lincoln.[3]

Kansas City Royals

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The Kansas City Royals selected Strahm in the 21st round, with the 643rd overall selection, of the 2012 MLB draft.[5][6] He signed with the Royals, receiving a $100,000 signing bonus,[7] rather than transfer to Nebraska. Strahm 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.[3] He missed most of the 2014 season, throwing only 19+1⁄3 innings for Idaho Falls.[8] In 2015, Strahm pitched for the Lexington Legends of the Class A South Atlantic League (SAL) and Wilmington Blue Rocks of the Class A-Advanced Carolina League.[3] He was named a SAL All-Star.[9] Between the two teams, Strahm recorded 121 strikeouts in 94 innings pitched.[4] The Royals added him to their 40-man roster after the 2015 season to protect him from the Rule 5 draft.[10][11] Strahm began the 2016 season with the Northwest Arkansas Naturals of the Class AA Texas League.[4] He had a 3.43 ERA and 107 strikeouts in 102+1⁄3 innings pitched through the end of July.[12]

When Wade Davis went on the disabled list, the Royals promoted Strahm to the major leagues on July 31, 2016.[13] He made his MLB debut that day.[14] 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.[8][15]

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.[16] 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.[17] Strahm made 24 appearances, including three starts for the Royals in 2017 before being shut down for the season with a torn patellar tendon in his left knee.

Overall during parts of two seasons with the Royals, Strahm compiled a 4–7 record in 45 games (3 starts) with a 3.81 ERA while striking out 67 batters in 56+2⁄3 innings.[18]

San Diego Padres

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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.[19] 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.

On April 17, 2021, Strahm was placed on the 60-day injured list as he continued to recover from patellar tendon surgery on his right knee that he underwent in October 2020.[20] On November 30, Strahm was non-tendered by the Padres, making him a free agent.[21]

Overall during parts of four seasons with the Padres, Strahm compiled a 9–17 record in 112 games (22 starts) with a 3.81 ERA while striking out 206 batters in 203+1⁄3 innings.[18]

Boston Red Sox

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On March 15, 2022, Strahm signed a one-year contract with the Boston Red Sox.[22] He began the season as a member of Boston's bullpen. Strahm was placed on the COVID-related list on May 30,[23] and reactivated on June 1.[24] He was placed on the injured list on July 15, due to a left wrist contusion suffered in a game against the Tampa Bay Rays on July 12.[25][26] He rejoined the team on August 19.[27] In 50 relief appearances with Boston during 2022, Strahm posted a 4–4 record with four saves and a 3.83 ERA while striking out 52 batters in 44+2⁄3 innings.[18]

In early November 2022, Strahm elected to become a free agent.[28]

Philadelphia Phillies

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On December 9, 2022, Strahm signed a two-year contract worth $15 million with the Philadelphia Phillies.[29] On May 6, 2023, Strahm was ejected from a game and fined for not leaving the field after the conclusion of the national anthem despite an umpire's warning. Boston Red Sox pitcher Kutter Crawford was also ejected. Both Strahm and Crawford were taking part in an "anthem standoff" where players compete to leave the field last. The ejection and subsequent fine was largely due to the introduction of the pitch clock, intended to speed up the game and prevent unnecessary delays. After the game, Strahm told reporters that the standoff was "embarrassing" and "...probably not the wisest decision I’ve made in my big-league career."[30][31] In 56 games for the Phillies in 2023, he went 9–5 with a 3.29 ERA and 108 strikeouts across 87+2⁄3 innings pitched.

On March 24, 2024, Strahm and the Phillies agreed to a one–year contract extension that includes a vesting option for the 2026 season.[32]

Personal life

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Strahm grew up a Minnesota Twins fan.[33] He and his wife, Megan, who also attended Neosho County Community College, were married in Chanute, Kansas, in September 2015.[7][34] 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.[8] Strahm has his own YouTube channel, depicting his baseball life and featuring him opening packs of baseball cards.[35]

References

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  1. ^ "Baseball Player Name Pronunciation Guide". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved April 10, 2023.
  2. ^ "Active MLB players in the 2024 season who were born in North Dakota". Stathead. Archived from the original on July 19, 2024. Retrieved July 19, 2024.
  3. ^ a b c d "How two years in Kansas helped build Royals left-hander Matt Strahm into a prospect". Retrieved January 9, 2017.
  4. ^ a b c "Strahm taking things day by day in the minors". Retrieved January 9, 2017.
  5. ^ "Kansas City Royals draft West Fargo's Strahm | INFORUM". www.inforum.com. Archived from the original on January 9, 2017.
  6. ^ "Matt Strahm signs with Royals". Retrieved January 9, 2017.
  7. ^ a b "Marriage in the Minor Leagues". July 10, 2016. Retrieved January 9, 2017.
  8. ^ a b c "Matt Strahm and the changing Royals' worldview". Retrieved January 9, 2017.
  9. ^ "Former West Fargo standout Matt Strahm named a South Atlantic..." June 16, 2015. Retrieved January 9, 2017.
  10. ^ "Royals add Kyle Zimmer and Bubba Starling to 40-man roster". Retrieved January 9, 2017.
  11. ^ "Former Panther gets added to Royals roster". Retrieved January 9, 2017.
  12. ^ "West Fargo's Matt Strahm gets call to join Kansas City Royal..." Retrieved January 9, 2017.
  13. ^ "Wade Davis goes back on DL, Royals recall Matt Strahm - FOX Sports". July 31, 2016. Retrieved January 9, 2017.
  14. ^ "North Dakota's Matt Strahm making big splash in big leagues". Archived from the original on January 9, 2017. Retrieved January 9, 2017.
  15. ^ "Strahm making the most of the promotion". Retrieved January 9, 2017.
  16. ^ "A revelation in relief, rookie Matt Strahm will get opportunity to start next spring". Retrieved January 9, 2017.
  17. ^ 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.
  18. ^ a b c "Matt Strahm Stats". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved November 11, 2022.
  19. ^ 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.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  20. ^ "Padres Place Dan Altavilla on 10-Day IL, Select Nick Ramirez".
  21. ^ Franco, Anthony (November 30, 2021). "National League Non-Tenders: 11/30/21". MLB Trade Rumors. Retrieved November 30, 2021.
  22. ^ "Red Sox agree to one-year contract with left-handed pitcher Matt Strahm". MLB.com. March 15, 2022. Retrieved March 15, 2022.
  23. ^ Cotillo, Chris (May 30, 2022). "Boston Red Sox roster moves: Matt Strahm placed on COVID list, Hirokazu Sawamura up from WooSox". masslive.com. Retrieved May 30, 2022.
  24. ^ Cotillo, Chris (June 1, 2022). "Boston Red Sox place Matt Barnes (shoulder inflammation) on injured list, activate Matt Strahm (COVID list)". masslive.com. Retrieved June 1, 2022 – via MSN.com.
  25. ^ Cotillo, Chris (July 15, 2022). "Boston Red Sox activate Nathan Eovaldi, Garrett Whitlock; Matt Strahm goes to IL with wrist injury". masslive.com. Retrieved July 16, 2022.
  26. ^ Cotillo, Chris (July 13, 2022). "Red Sox injuries: Trevor Story, Matt Strahm both have X-rays come back negative after leaving Tuesday's game". masslive.com. Retrieved July 16, 2022.
  27. ^ Cotillo, Chris (August 19, 2022). "Boston Red Sox option Josh Winckowski (6.75 ERA since July 7) to Triple-A, clearing room for Matt Strahm". masslive.com. Retrieved August 19, 2022 – via MSN.com.
  28. ^ "Red Sox Roster & Staff – Transactions". MLB.com. Boston Red Sox. November 2022. Retrieved November 11, 2022.
  29. ^ "Phillies sign left-hander Strahm to 2-year deal". December 9, 2022.
  30. ^ Leger, Justin. "Kutter Crawford, Matt Strahm ejected and fined for anthem standoff". NBC Sports. Retrieved May 9, 2023.
  31. ^ Thompson, Scott. "Phillies' Matt Strahm on ejection after national anthem standoff went too far: 'Not the wisest decision'". Fox Sports. Retrieved May 9, 2023.
  32. ^ "Phillies, Strahm agree to contract extension". mlb.com. Retrieved March 24, 2024.
  33. ^ "North Dakota's Matt Strahm making big splash in big leagues". September 26, 2016.
  34. ^ "Lester-Strahm | INFORUM". www.inforum.com. Archived from the original on September 20, 2015.
  35. ^ "Strahm's Stadium Pulls". YouTube. Retrieved June 16, 2024.
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