CLEVELAND — Stephen Strasburg will look great in pinstripes in 2017.
His agent, Scott Boras, is probably scouting penthouses overlooking Central Park as we speak after the Washington Nationals’ phenom improved to 2-0 Sunday with an eight-strikeout performance against the Indians.
That’s 22 strikeouts in 122/3 innings — albeit against the Pirates and Indians — for the 6-foot-4 right-hander.
The No. 1 pick in the 2009 draft whiffed 19 before issuing his first career walk to catcher Carlos Santana in the fourth inning. According to the Elias Sports Bureau, only one other pitcher since 1900 totaled that many strikeouts before giving a batter a free pass; that was Cincinnati’s Johnny Cueto with 22 in 2008.
Strasburg ended up walking five Indians in the Nationals’ 9-4 victory. But at this rate, Strasburg may soon be known as Special K.
And with those K’s will come barrels of money that only the New York Yankees can afford to roll out when Strasburg reaches six full years of major-league experience and is eligible for free agency.
Seventy-seven seconds before the signing deadline last August, Boras finalized a four-year, $15.1 million contract for Strasburg that was the most money ever given to a drafted player. If Strasburg lives up to the standard he’s establishing, he’ll eventually make CC Sabathia’s contract with the Yankees look like chump change. Sabathia was 28 when the Steinbrenners gave him $161 million in December 2008. Strasburg will also be 28 when he hits the mother lode.
In the meantime, he can make baseball in Washington relevant again and perhaps draw the Tweeting and texting generation to a game that moves at less than 4G speed.
Sunday’s attendance of 32,876 was the second-highest of the season at Progressive Field. The hype surrounding Strasburg is expected to bring similar spikes whenever he pitches, an effect Nationals manager Jim Riggleman said he hasn’t seen nationally in his 17 years as a major-league manager or coach.
“Maybe they did this with (Sandy) Koufax or some others,” Riggleman said. “I know that (happened) in Texas when Nolan Ryan pitched at home because people thought it might be the next no-hitter.
“It’s great for baseball, it’s great for the Nationals. I like that people have something to rally around, a young player they can get excited about. Stephen’s got a chance to be really special.”
As much as Strasburg cost them, Washington’s owners are being financially rewarded for the dubious honor of owning the No. 1 pick. Strasburg’s teammates know they will benefit as well.
“Obviously, the more national notoriety he gets, the team will benefit, it’s great for the organization,” outfielder Adam Dunn said. “What’s really good, instead of playing in front of 15,000 or 20,000, you’re playing in front of 35,000 or 40,000. That’s a lot more fun.”
If Strasburg read or listened to everything being said about him, his ego could swell to the size of the Goodyear blimp. So he’s been forced to delete a few favorites on his television remote.
“I’m still watching TV,” he said. “I’m just not watching those channels.”
With his talent and calm demeanor — he was napping in the clubhouse prior to Sunday’s game — Strasburg seems on the fast track to a Cy Young Award. And Cleveland fans know where that leads: One E. 161st St., the Bronx.
At least in this case, it won’t be a Tribesman getting poached.
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