Earning his stripes

Marcus Stroman grew up in Medford and graduated from Pat-Med High School in 2009. Stroman grew up a Yankees fan and his dream of wearing the pinstripes at the baseball cathedral on East 161st Street and River Avenue in the Bronx, finally became a reality last Friday.

Stroman made his Yankees debut on the road on Saturday, March 30, in Houston vs. the rival Astros. Stroman had an exhilarating outing, pitching six innings giving up zero earned runs and struck out four Astros to earn the victory.

Last Friday, Stroman received the honor of getting to start the home opener. The Medford native christened the 2024 season at Yankee Stadium dominating the Toronto Blue Jays.

In the first inning, Stroman got Vladimir Guerrero Jr. to ground out to Anthony Rizzo at first base. Stroman ran to first and Rizzo flipped to the pitcher as Stroman stepped on the bag to retire Guerrero.

He then attained his first strikeout at Yankee Stadium after he struck out Bo Bichette swinging for the second out and completed the inning after Justin Turner lined out to shortstop Anthony Volpe.

In the second frame, Davis Schneider flew out to Aaron Judge in centerfield, then got Cavan Biggio to ground out; then Daulton Varsho was called out on strikes for Stroman’s second K.

In the triadic frame, the Pat-Med alumnus caught Isiah Kiner-Falefa looking for his third strikeout of the matinee. George Springer flew out to right-fielder Juan Soto; then Guerrero grounded out to Jon Berti at third, and Stroman pitched a 1-2-3 inning. In the fourth, Stroman actuated a groundout to third base by Bichette.

He rung up his fourth strikeout after he froze Schneider for a called third strike. Stroman got into a jam, putting runners on second and third, but with two outs Rizzo reeled in a floater off the bat of Alejandro Kirk on the first-base side, and he wiggled out of a dicey fourth inning with no runs.

In the fifth, he induced two Toronto Blue Jays to ground out, then whiffed Guerrero Jr. to retire the side.

Then in the sixth, Stroman got two Blue Jays to fly out to Judge and he struck out Justin Turner. Stroman pitched six innings, threw 98 pitches—57 for strikes—gave up three hits, walked one batter, struck out six Blue Jays, and did not concede a run in a no decision.

The Yankees lost 3-0, but Stroman earned his pinstripes in a subjugating performance in the 2024 home opener.

In his first two starts as a Yankee, Stroman has pitched 12 innings without giving up an earned run, allowed only seven hits, walked three batters, and recorded 10 strikeouts.

The former Patchogue-Medford Raiders star has held opponents to a .159 batting average against, and his No. 0 on the back of his jersey matches his 0.00 ERA.