WAY TO STRO’ MARCUS!
Mets pitcher offers to coach young athletes
Still no announcement of a baseball season? For Marcus Stroman, that’s no problem. The Mets pitcher, in the meantime, is lending his expertise to young athletes.
Stroman, currently living in Tampa, offered to assist youth, high school and college players in the area while Major League Baseball owners and players con- tinue to quarrel over an established deal to begin the season.
“ANNOUNCEMENT: All high school/college/summer ball/youth coaches in the TAMPA AREA…email info@stroshow.com with the age group, team name, location, workout times/dates in the next few weeks/months, and some enlightening information about your squad!” Stroman wrote in a tweet on Tuesday.
The 29-year-old pitcher received hundreds of responses through Twitter — from coaches and players alike — and Stroman expressed enthusiasm to begin his new chapter of coaching.
“I’m excited for this,” Stroman said. “I have nothing but knowledge to spread to the youth!”
Stroman, originally from Patchogue-Medford in Long Island, joined the Mets last July in a trade from the Blue Jays and becomes a free agent after the 2020 season. He returned to his Tampa home after spring training was shut down on March 12 and frequently boasts his expansive property, which includes a nifty bullpen setup over the deck in his backyard.
The right-hander has a 3.76 career ERA and turned in one of his best seasons in 2019 — recording a 3.22 ERA (ranked 12th in the majors) across 32 combined starts for the Mets and Blue Jays. Stroman ranked fourth in the majors with a 54.7% ground ball rate and went 3-1 with a 2.91 ERA, striking out 35 batters, over his last six starts of the 2019 season.