1. Overview
Marcus Earl Stroman (born May 1, 1991) is an American professional baseball pitcher for the New York Yankees of Major League Baseball (MLB). He has previously played in MLB for the Toronto Blue Jays, New York Mets, and Chicago Cubs. Standing at 5 in, Stroman is one of the few pitchers shorter than 5 in to make an MLB start in the 21st century. His career is marked by notable achievements including a Rawlings Gold Glove Award in 2017 and being named the World Baseball Classic MVP in the same year while representing the United States. He was also selected as an All-Star in 2019 and 2023.
2. Early Life and Background
Marcus Stroman's early life was shaped by his family background and formative experiences in New York, which influenced his path to professional baseball.
2.1. Early Life
Stroman was born in Medford, New York, on May 1, 1991. His parents, Earl Stroman and Adlin Auffant, divorced when he was in the fifth grade. At the age of six, in 1997, Stroman made an appearance on the Nickelodeon game show Figure It Out.
2.2. Family Relationships
Stroman's father works as a police detective in Suffolk County, New York. His mother, Adlin Auffant, is of Puerto Rican descent, which made him eligible to represent Puerto Rico in the World Baseball Classic. He has two siblings, a brother named Jayden and a sister named Sabria. His cousin, Erskine Kelley, also played minor league baseball for the Pittsburgh Pirates and Chicago Cubs organizations.
3. Amateur Career
Stroman's amateur career saw him develop into a promising baseball talent through his high school and collegiate experiences, leading to his entry into professional baseball.
3.1. High School Career
Stroman attended Patchogue-Medford High School in Medford, New York. During his high school years, he developed a notable rivalry with his friend and future New York Mets teammate, Steven Matz, who pitched for the nearby Ward Melville High School. Despite their rivalry, Matz and Stroman were teammates on the elite travel team, the Paveco Storm, for several years throughout junior high and high school. They were also roommates during the Area Code Games and faced each other multiple times in high school, including a particularly significant game on April 16, 2009, which attracted over 50 scouts from every MLB team.
3.2. College Baseball
After high school, Stroman opted not to sign with the Washington Nationals following the 2009 MLB draft and instead enrolled at Duke University. There, he played college baseball for the Duke Blue Devils. During his collegiate career, Stroman compiled a record of 15 wins and 13 losses in 48 appearances. He set a Duke record for career strikeouts, achieving 290 strikeouts over 222 innings pitched. In addition to pitching, Stroman also played as a position player for Duke, making 97 appearances primarily at second base and shortstop. In 2010 and 2011, he played collegiate summer baseball for the Orleans Firebirds of the Cape Cod Baseball League (CCBL), where he maintained a remarkable record of zero earned runs over 34 innings across his career with Orleans. He was recognized as a league all-star in 2010 and was inducted into the CCBL Hall of Fame class of 2022. On May 15, 2016, Stroman graduated from Duke University with a bachelor's degree in sociology.
3.3. Draft
Stroman first entered the MLB draft in 2009, when he was selected by the Washington Nationals in the 18th round, 532nd overall. However, he chose not to sign with the Nationals, opting instead to attend Duke University. After his collegiate career, Stroman was again eligible for the draft. In the 2012 Major League Baseball draft, he was drafted by the Toronto Blue Jays as the 22nd overall pick in the first round. This selection made him the first player from Duke University ever to be chosen in the first round of the MLB draft. Analysts at the time considered him the most major league-ready player available in the 2012 draft.
4. Professional Career
Marcus Stroman's professional career began in the minor leagues before he made his mark with multiple Major League Baseball teams, including the Toronto Blue Jays, New York Mets, Chicago Cubs, and New York Yankees.
4.1. Minor League Career
Following his selection by the Toronto Blue Jays in the 2012 MLB draft, Marcus Stroman began his professional career with the Low-A affiliate, the Vancouver Canadians. After making seven appearances with the Canadians, he was promoted to the Double-A New Hampshire Fisher Cats on August 1, 2012. In eight appearances for the Fisher Cats, he recorded two wins and no losses, with a 3.38 ERA and eight strikeouts, concluding his first professional season.
On August 28, 2012, Stroman received a 50-game suspension for testing positive for methylhexanamine, a banned stimulant. He claimed to have unknowingly consumed the substance through an over-the-counter supplement. After completing his suspension, Stroman returned to pitch for the Fisher Cats on May 19, 2013, where he pitched five scoreless innings to earn a win. On July 2, 2013, he recorded 13 strikeouts over 6.67 innings in a game against the New Britain Rock Cats. His strong performance led to him being ranked as the number three prospect in the Blue Jays organization on July 26, 2013, and the 55th overall prospect in Major League Baseball ahead of the 2014 season.
In 2014, Stroman was invited to the Blue Jays' major league spring training camp. He was later assigned to the Triple-A Buffalo Bisons, where he served as their Opening Day starting pitcher. On May 3, 2014, Stroman was called up to the Major Leagues due to an injury to Brandon Morrow, at which point he was considered the organization's number two prospect.
4.2. Toronto Blue Jays
Marcus Stroman's tenure with the Toronto Blue Jays spanned from his Major League debut in 2014 to his trade in 2019, during which he established himself as a key pitcher, overcoming injuries and earning significant accolades.
4.2.1. 2014-2015 Seasons
Stroman made his Major League debut on May 4, 2014, pitching 0.67 innings and allowing one run in relief against the Pittsburgh Pirates. His first MLB victory came on May 6, when he pitched 1.33 innings in relief against the Philadelphia Phillies. After a brief option to Triple-A Buffalo, he was recalled on May 30 and made his first Major League start on May 31 against the Kansas City Royals, pitching six innings with no earned runs, five hits, and six strikeouts to earn his first big league starting win. On August 9, Stroman pitched nine innings for the first time in his career, though he received a no-decision. On September 8, he achieved his first career complete game and shutout, needing only 93 pitches to defeat the Chicago Cubs 8-0, allowing only three hits and retiring 19 consecutive batters at one point.
On September 17, Stroman was suspended six games (later reduced to five upon appeal) and fined an undisclosed amount for intentionally throwing at Caleb Joseph of the Baltimore Orioles. After serving his suspension, he was moved to the bullpen for the remainder of the season, earning his first career save on September 26. He concluded the 2014 season with an 11-6 record, a 3.65 ERA, 111 strikeouts, and a 1.17 WHIP over 130.67 innings pitched.
On October 6, 2014, Stroman announced he would change his uniform number from 54 to 6 in honor of his grandmother. During 2015 spring training, he suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in his left knee, requiring surgery performed by Dr. James Andrews. He was placed on the 60-day disabled list on April 5. During his rehabilitation, Stroman returned to Duke University to complete his degree in sociology with a minor in Markets and Management Studies.
He began a rehab assignment on August 5, throwing off a mound for the first time since his injury on August 11. He pitched simulated games on August 24 (40 pitches) and August 28 (51 pitches). His Class-A debut with the Lansing Lugnuts on September 2 saw him pitch 4.67 innings with no hits, one walk, and seven strikeouts. His second and final rehab start was on September 7 with the Buffalo Bisons. Manager John Gibbons confirmed Stroman would return as a starter, making his 2015 debut on September 12 against the New York Yankees. He was activated from the disabled list on September 11 and pitched five innings for a win in a rain-delayed game. He made three more starts, finishing the 2015 regular season with a 4-0 record, a 1.67 ERA, and 18 strikeouts in 27 innings pitched.
Stroman made his postseason debut in Game 2 of the 2015 American League Division Series against the Texas Rangers, pitching seven innings, allowing three earned runs, and striking out five, though he received a no-decision. He started again in Game 5 of the series, yielding six hits and two earned runs over six innings in the Blue Jays' 6-3 victory.
4.2.2. 2016-2017 Seasons
On March 23, 2016, Marcus Stroman was named the Opening Day starter for the Toronto Blue Jays. He pitched into the ninth inning of the season opener against the Tampa Bay Rays, allowing three runs on six hits and striking out five in a 5-3 win. On May 1, his 25th birthday, Stroman set a new career-high with 9 strikeouts in a 5-1 win over the Rays, also setting a Blue Jays franchise record for strikeouts on a pitcher's birthday. He further improved his single-game strikeout record on August 1, fanning 13 Houston Astros batters in a no-decision. Stroman concluded the 2016 regular season with a 9-10 record, a 4.37 ERA, and 166 strikeouts over a career-high 204 innings pitched. He led all major league pitchers with the highest ground ball percentage (60.1%) and the lowest fly ball percentage (20.4%).
On October 3, Stroman was announced as the starter for the 2016 American League Wild Card Game against the Baltimore Orioles. He pitched six full innings, giving up just two earned runs and striking out six, as the Blue Jays won 5-2 in extra innings to advance. Although scheduled to start Game 4 of the ALDS, the Blue Jays swept the Rangers. In the American League Championship Series against the Cleveland Indians, Stroman made one start, pitching 5.33 innings and yielding four earned runs in Game 3.
On February 14, 2017, Stroman won his salary arbitration case, securing a 3.40 M USD salary for the 2017 season. On April 25, in a 6-5 win over the St. Louis Cardinals, he recorded his first career hit, a double to left field. This was the first ever pinch hit by a Blue Jays pitcher and the first extra-base pinch hit by an American League pitcher since Gary Peters in 1971. On May 18, 2017, Stroman hit an opposite-field home run off Julio Teherán in the Blue Jays' 9-0 victory over the Atlanta Braves, becoming only the second Blue Jays pitcher to hit a home run (after Mark Hendrickson in 2003). His home run, following Luke Maile's solo shot, marked the first time batterymates hit back-to-back home runs since 1970. He was also the first pitcher listed 5 in or shorter to hit a major league home run since Tom Phoebus in 1968.
Stroman faced minor injuries in 2017, including a blister on his right middle finger on July 3 against the New York Yankees and being hit on the right elbow by a line drive on September 2 against the Baltimore Orioles, but neither injury caused him to miss a start. He finished the 2017 season with 13 wins, 164 strikeouts, and a 3.09 ERA in 201 innings. By reaching the 200-inning mark, he became the seventh Blue Jays pitcher in 20 years to have consecutive 200-inning seasons. For the second consecutive year, he had the highest ground ball percentage among major league pitchers (62.1%) and the lowest fly ball percentage (19.7%). On October 28, Stroman was named a finalist for the American League pitcher's Rawlings Gold Glove Award, which he subsequently won on November 7. The Toronto chapter of the Baseball Writers' Association of America unanimously voted him the Blue Jays' Pitcher of the Year for 2017.
4.2.3. 2018-2019 Seasons
On February 15, 2018, Marcus Stroman announced he had lost his salary arbitration case and would earn 6.50 M USD for the season, rather than his requested 6.90 M USD. He struggled at the start of the 2018 season, recording an 0-5 record with a 7.71 ERA before being placed on the 10-day disabled list on May 11 due to right shoulder fatigue. On June 13, he made a rehab start with the Dunedin Blue Jays (High-A), pitching 4.33 innings, allowing two runs on one hit, walking four, and striking out three. Stroman returned to Toronto's rotation on June 23, delivering five shutout innings against the Los Angeles Angels. Later in the season, blister issues in his pitching hand forced him to exit starts on August 7 and 17 against the Boston Red Sox and New York Yankees, respectively. He returned on September 3 to start against the Tampa Bay Rays, but blisters again forced him out of the game. This marked the end of his 2018 season, which he finished with a 4-9 record and a 5.54 ERA in 19 starts.
On March 13, 2019, Blue Jays manager Charlie Montoyo named Stroman the Opening Day starter. On March 28, he pitched seven innings of two-hit, shutout baseball against the Detroit Tigers, though the Blue Jays lost 0-2. Despite a 5-9 record in the first half of the season, Stroman maintained a 3.18 ERA and recorded 81 strikeouts, leading to his first career selection to the 2019 MLB All-Star Game on June 30. However, with the Blue Jays struggling and out of postseason contention, Stroman became a trade candidate. On July 28, 2019, the Blue Jays traded Stroman, along with cash considerations, to the New York Mets in exchange for pitching prospects Anthony Kay and Simeon Woods Richardson.
4.3. New York Mets
After his trade from Toronto, Marcus Stroman joined the New York Mets, where he continued to pitch at a high level, navigating contract decisions and a season impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.
4.3.1. 2019 Season
Following his trade to the New York Mets on July 28, 2019, Marcus Stroman made 11 starts for his new team. During this period, he compiled a record of 4 wins and 2 losses, with a 3.77 ERA and 60 strikeouts. Overall for the 2019 season, combining his time with both the Blue Jays and the Mets, Stroman finished with a 10-13 record and a 3.22 ERA.
4.3.2. 2020-2021 Seasons
On November 15, 2019, Marcus Stroman announced via Twitter that he would be switching his uniform number to 0 for the 2020 season, also changing his Twitter handle to @STR0. He had previously expressed a desire to give up his No. 7 jersey in honor of José Reyes. During that offseason, he hired Nikki Huffman as his personal trainer, who had previously served as the head trainer for the Toronto Blue Jays. Stroman first met Huffman in 2015 at Duke University, where she played a crucial role in his ahead-of-schedule recovery from a torn ACL.
Stroman missed the beginning of the 2020 season due to a torn left calf muscle. On August 10, 2020, before he could return from the injury, he announced his decision to opt out of the remainder of the season due to concerns related to the COVID-19 pandemic. After the 2020 season concluded, the Mets extended a qualifying offer to Stroman, valued at 18.90 M USD for the 2021 season, which he accepted on November 11.
In the 2021 season, Stroman returned to the mound and became a consistent presence in the Mets' starting rotation. He led the team's starters with 10 wins, 158 strikeouts, and 179 innings pitched. After the 2021 season, he became a free agent.
4.4. Chicago Cubs
Marcus Stroman joined the Chicago Cubs on a multi-year deal, continuing his career in the National League and participating in another international tournament.
4.4.1. 2022-2023 Seasons
On December 1, 2021, Marcus Stroman signed a two-year contract with the Chicago Cubs, valued at 71.00 M USD, which included a player option for a third year. He made history by becoming the first player for the Cubs to wear the uniform number 0.
In the 2022 season, Stroman faced challenges, including being placed on the injured list due to right shoulder inflammation. He made 25 appearances, recording 6 wins and 7 losses, with a 3.50 ERA and 119 strikeouts over 138.67 innings pitched.
For the 2023 season, Stroman was named the Cubs' Opening Day starter. On March 30, he started against the Milwaukee Brewers and became the first pitcher to be called for a violation of the newly implemented pitch clock. He pitched six scoreless innings in that game, leading his team to victory. During the first half of the 2023 season, Stroman was a standout performer, making 19 starts with a record of 9 wins and 6 losses, and an impressive 2.96 ERA. His strong performance earned him a selection to the 2023 MLB All-Star Game, though he ultimately chose not to play in the game to rest. In August, the Cubs placed Stroman on the injured list due to inflammation in his right hip. By mid-August, he was diagnosed with a rib cage cartilage fracture. He returned to the Cubs' rotation in mid-September. After the 2023 season, Stroman declined his player option for the 2024 season, making him a free agent.
4.5. New York Yankees
Marcus Stroman signed with the New York Yankees for the 2024 season, marking his return to New York and the American League.
4.5.1. 2024 Season
On January 17, 2024, Marcus Stroman finalized a two-year contract with the New York Yankees worth 37.00 M USD. The deal included a conditional player option for the 2026 season, which would vest at 18.00 M USD if Stroman pitched at least 140 innings in 2025, bringing the potential total value to 55.00 M USD.
In his first season with the Yankees, Stroman made 29 starts and one relief appearance, pitching 154.67 innings with a 4.31 ERA and 113 strikeouts. However, his performance declined towards the end of the season, with a 5.70 ERA since the start of June. As a result, Stroman was initially left off the Yankees' 26-man roster for the ALDS. After the Yankees advanced, he was re-added to their 26-man roster for the ALCS.
5. International Career
Marcus Stroman has represented both the United States and Puerto Rico in international baseball competitions, making significant contributions, particularly in the World Baseball Classic.
5.1. World Baseball Classic
In December 2016, Marcus Stroman announced his intention to play for the United States national baseball team in the 2017 World Baseball Classic. He made three starts for Team USA, posting a 2.35 ERA over 15.33 innings pitched. In the championship game against Team Puerto Rico, Stroman delivered a dominant performance, holding the Puerto Rican team scoreless and hitless through six innings. His effort led Team USA to an 8-0 victory, securing their first WBC championship. Following the tournament, Stroman was named the Most Valuable Player (MVP) of the 2017 World Baseball Classic and was also selected to the All-World Baseball Classic team.
In 2023, Stroman chose to represent the Puerto Rico national baseball team at the 2023 World Baseball Classic, honoring his mother's heritage.
6. Pitching Style
Marcus Stroman's pitching repertoire consists of six distinct pitches. His four-seam fastball averages around 93 mph, while his two-seam fastball averages approximately 92 mph. His off-speed pitches include a curveball thrown at about 82 mph, a changeup at 85 mph, a cutter at 90 mph, and a slider typically around 85 mph. Since the 2015 season, Stroman has increasingly relied on his two-seam fastball, which accounts for about 41-44% of his pitches.
7. Personal Life
Beyond his professional baseball career, Marcus Stroman maintains a distinctive personal brand, engages in various business ventures, and pursues personal interests that reflect his diverse background and philosophies.
7.1. Personal Brand and Business
Marcus Stroman is well-known for his personal brand, "HDMH," which stands for "Height Doesn't Measure Heart." On January 9, 2015, he legally trademarked both "Height Doesn't Measure Heart" and "HDMH." Since mid-2015, he has collaborated with New Era to produce caps featuring his trademarks. He has also partnered with major companies such as Nike, Jordan Brand, BioSteel, and Rogers to create apparel lines that incorporate the HDMH logo. Stroman has stated that during a physical examination for Nike, he was officially measured at exactly 5 in.
Stroman has numerous tattoos, each holding personal significance. These include a large tribute on his left shoulder dedicated to his grandmother, Gloria Major, who regularly attended his high school games and passed away while he was attending Duke University. Other tattoos feature the area code 631, portraits of his parents, a Gold Glove Award, the Air Jordan logo, quotes from Mark 9 and Martin Luther King Jr., the flag of Puerto Rico, his mother's eye, the Major League Baseball logo with the date of his MLB debut, the date of his 2015 knee surgery, a portrait of Rihanna, Cillian Murphy's character from Peaky Blinders, Denzel Washington's character from Training Day, himself swinging a bat in a Blue Jays uniform, the skyline of Toronto, the head of a lion, his father's police badge, his own initials, an orchid, a poker chip, the number 6, a silhouetted airplane, and a wine glass. He also has phrases such as "God bless me," "God save me," and "family" in Spanish, as well as "blessed," "mamma's boy," "daddy's gift," "dreamchaser," "BElieve in YOUrself," "smile," "mom," "dad," "height doesn't measure heart," and "breaking stereotypes."
Stroman has also ventured into the music industry, appearing on the remix of the title track from rapper Mike Stud's 2016 album These Days. He has also performed in concert with Stud, who was his teammate at Duke University.
7.2. Personal Beliefs and Activities
Outside of baseball, Marcus Stroman is an avid wine enthusiast. He has a personal wine cellar constructed in his Tampa home, which is estimated to house over 400 bottles of wine. Stroman has also expressed a strong interest in Transcendental Meditation, stating that he is "very big into Transcendental Meditation."
8. Awards and Honors
Marcus Stroman has received several significant awards and honors throughout his professional baseball career:
- American League Gold Glove Award for Pitcher: 2017
- American League All-Star: 2019
- National League All-Star: 2023
- World Baseball Classic MVP: 2017
- All-World Baseball Classic Team: 2017
9. Statistics
| Year | Team | Age | Wins | Losses | Win-loss% | ERA | Games Pitched | Games Started | Complete Games | Shutouts | Saves | Holds | Innings Pitched | Hits | Home Runs | Walks | Intentional Walks | Strikeouts | Hit by Pitch | Balks | Wild Pitches | Runs Allowed | Earned Runs | Batters Faced | WHIP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | TOR | 23 | 11 | 6 | .647 | 3.65 | 26 | 20 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 130.2 | 125 | 7 | 28 | 1 | 111 | 3 | 1 | 9 | 56 | 53 | 534 | 1.171 |
| 2015 | 24 | 4 | 0 | 1.000 | 1.67 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 27.0 | 20 | 2 | 6 | 0 | 18 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 5 | 5 | 103 | .963 | |
| 2016 | 25 | 9 | 10 | .474 | 4.37 | 32 | 32 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 204.0 | 209 | 21 | 54 | 0 | 166 | 4 | 1 | 9 | 104 | 99 | 855 | 1.289 | |
| 2017 | 26 | 13 | 9 | .591 | 3.09 | 33 | 33 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 201.0 | 201 | 21 | 62 | 1 | 164 | 6 | 1 | 3 | 82 | 69 | 834 | 1.308 | |
| 2018 | 27 | 4 | 9 | .308 | 5.54 | 19 | 19 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 102.1 | 115 | 9 | 36 | 0 | 77 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 68 | 63 | 449 | 1.476 | |
| 2019 | 28 | 6 | 11 | .353 | 2.96 | 21 | 21 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 124.2 | 118 | 10 | 35 | 0 | 99 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 50 | 41 | 513 | 1.227 | |
| NYM | 28 | 4 | 2 | .667 | 3.77 | 11 | 11 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 59.2 | 65 | 8 | 23 | 1 | 60 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 27 | 25 | 261 | 1.475 | |
| 2019 Total | 28 | 10 | 13 | .435 | 3.22 | 32 | 32 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 184.1 | 183 | 18 | 58 | 1 | 159 | 1 | 0 | 7 | 77 | 66 | 774 | 1.307 | |
| 2021 | 30 | 10 | 13 | .435 | 3.02 | 33 | 33 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 179.0 | 161 | 17 | 44 | 2 | 158 | 7 | 0 | 7 | 70 | 60 | 730 | 1.145 | |
| 2022 | CHC | 31 | 6 | 7 | .462 | 3.50 | 25 | 25 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 138.2 | 123 | 16 | 36 | 0 | 119 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 61 | 54 | 569 | 1.147 |
| 2023 | 32 | 10 | 9 | .526 | 3.95 | 27 | 25 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 136.2 | 120 | 9 | 52 | 0 | 119 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 68 | 60 | 575 | 1.259 | |
| MLB Career: 9 years | 77 | 76 | .503 | 3.65 | 231 | 223 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1303.2 | 1257 | 120 | 376 | 5 | 1091 | 31 | 7 | 45 | 591 | 529 | 5423 | 1.253 | ||