When Duke right-handed pitcher Marcus Stroman was drafted 22nd overall by the Toronto Blue Jays, scouts predicted he could end up a reliever in the major leagues despite starting in his final season with the Blue Devils.
At least for now, many of those predictions are coming true, according to Stroman, who tweeted, "I’m relieving this year! No starting just yet. I’ll be in the bullpen for the rest of this year! ?#excited?."
Stroman was assigned by the Blue Jays to pitch for the single-A Vancouver Canadians this season. His 5-foot-9 frame may suit better for a role in the bullpen, and as a reliever he may be able to reach the major leagues more quickly than he would as a starter.
Stroman, the first Duke baseball player to be selected in the first round of the MLB Draft, went 6-5 last season with a 2.39 ERA and 139 strikeouts in 98.0 innings.
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