This has got to be an exciting time for the kid.
You may have heard that the Dodgers were interviewing for an opening on the starting rotation. Circumstances as they were, the #5 spot was available and numerous pitchers got a good long look. Now, with the start of the season on the horizon, the Dodgers have just announced a victor. The #5 starter for the Dodgers is 26-year old rookie right-hander Ross Stripling. Via Alanna Rizzo on twitter:
Congrats, kiddo!.@RossStripling is the #Dodgers 5th starter, beating out Frias & Lee.— Alanna Rizzo (@alannarizzo) April 1, 2016
Four years after being drafted out of Texas A&M and only one year removed from Tommy John Surgery, Ross Stripling can now call himself a Major League pitcher. Heck, I think he's more surprised than anyone at the distinction. Having never pitched above AA ball, he came into Spring not expecting to end up in Los Angeles. Per Bill Shaikin at the LA Times:
"I didn’t honestly think I had much of a chance," he said. "My goal was just to prove I could pitch."Dave Roberts also said this of Stripling a couple days ago, via Doug Padilla at ESPN:
Stripling pitched 11 innings this spring, posting a 4.09 earned-run average. Manager Dave Roberts admitted the Dodgers had opened camp thinking that, if all went well for Stripling, the right-hander would make his major league debut in September.
“You have to look at the stuff that plays at the major-league level, and his stuff plays,” Roberts said. “He has good stuff, but certainly (having not pitched above Double-A) weighs into our discussion.”I guess all those prior concerns are in the past. BTW, you can follow Ross on twitter here: @RossStripling.
In celebration of his making the big club I made the above fantasy card of him. The photograph is taken by Jon SooHoo/LA Dodgers 2016 this Spring and I used the 1982 Topps Baseball card design.
UPDATE: You should definitely read Jon Weisman's story at Dodger Insider about Stripling and his experience of being told of the promotion. (Link Here)
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