Sure Call Sports Free Sports Picks

On Saturday, Stephen Strasburg was sent to the minor leagues by the Washington Nationals, who told baseball’s top pitching prospect he needed to slow down his delivery from the stretch in order to speed up his arrival in the majors.

“I’m not a believer that a player can come from amateur baseball and step right into the major leagues,” Nationals general manager Mike Rizzo said. “I’ve seen terrific prospects attempt it and the failure rate is too great. This is a prized asset.”

The top overall pick in June’s draft, the Nationals optioned the 21-year-old Strasburg, to Double-A Harrisburg. For Washington, Strasburg is easily the best pitcher in spring training. Strasburg got the news when he reported to Space Coast Stadium the morning after his most impressive spring outing.

Striking out eight St. Louis batters in four innings Friday night in his third spring start, Strasburg, who signed a record $15.1 million contract in August, allowed two first-inning home runs, then settled down and took command.

“It’s all about confidence—confidence in the pitches, confidence going out there That’s the bottom line,” Strasburg said after clearing out his locker and packing his equipment bag. “The knock that people have on me is that I don’t have experience and you’re only going to get experience with time.”

Displaying a 98 mph fastball  and a slider-curve hybrid that hitters had trouble reading out of his hand, Strasburg went 1-0 with a 2.00 ERA, allowing eight hits, walked one and struck out 12 in nine innings.

“What he did out there just verified what everybody had been saying. … He did everything you wanted him to do. I don’t think camp could have gone any better for him,” manager Jim Riggleman said.

Strasburg’s propensity to rush his delivery out of the stretch was the only flaw the Nationals saw. Detroit Tigers manager Jim Leyland said after watching Strasburg that the right-hander’s velocity dropped several miles an hour when he had runners on base, making it easier for hitters to catch up to his fastball.

“If they tell me what to do, I’m going to do it,” Strasburg said. “Sometimes it won’t make sense, but more times than not, it’s going to work out in the long run. I trust what they’re doing with me.”

Strasburg would be in line to start Harrisburg’s Eastern League opener April 8 at Altoona, if he stays on his current pitching schedule,. Rizzo wouldn’t rule out summoning Strasburg to pitch April 3, when Washington hosts the Boston Red Sox in an exhibition game at Nationals Park.

The Nationals led the majors with 103 losses last season.When Strasburg will make his big league debut remains to be seen.

With the left-hander John Lannan, the presumed opening day starter, and right-hander Jason Marquis, a free-agent acquisition, the Nationals’ rotation is unsettled. By  keeping Strasburg in the minors until late May or early June could save the Nationals a sizable sum of money, since it would delay Strasburg’s eligibility for salary arbitration and free agency.

“It’s his developmental schedule—that’s the only prerequisite I have as far as a time frame,” Rizzo said. “What’s in his best interest, to develop the player at the fullest, not only for now but for long term.”

Added Strasburg: “Hopefully I impressed the people that make the decisions and hopefully I’ll be back here soon.”