Jays: Opening day belongs to Stroman
DUNEDIN— Marcus Stroman received a congratulatory message from an old friend and future rival on Wednesday afternoon.
“Congrats on getting opening day, young champ,” read the text from David Price.
“That just shows you the type of individual he is,” Stroman said of the fleeting Blue Jay, who decamped this off-season for the Boston Red Sox and a $217 million (U.S.) contract.
Stroman is hoping to fill Price’s shoes this season in assuming the ace mantle.
His campaign will begin April 3 when the Blue Jays open their season on the road against the Tampa Bay Rays. Manager John Gibbons made the obvious official on Wednesday morning, conceding — after some light badgering from Sportsnet 590 The Fan’s Mike Wilner — that Stroman will in fact receive the coveted assignment.
The 24-year-old right-hander, who missed most of last season with a knee injury but returned in time for an inspired homestretch and spirited playoff run, said he was “honoured” to get the nod in what will be the first opening day of his major-league career.
“I’m excited to be the ace and I’m looking forward to running with it,” Stroman said, after mostly dominating in a minor-league intra-squad game on Wednesday. “I put myself in a position where I’ve worked extremely hard . . . so now that I can actually go out there and be the ace, it’s extremely gratifying.”
Stroman, who owns a 2.99 ERA in 24 career starts over parts of two seasons, will go up against Chris Archer, the Rays’ similarly undersized and equally energetic ace, in what should be an exciting duel between two of baseball’s most compelling young stars.