Full name is Marcus Earl Stroman...Graduated from Patchogue-Medford High School (N.Y.) in 2010, where he was a four-year letter winner...went 9-1 with a 0.25 ERA and 120 strikeouts in his senior season, earning him First-Team All-State and Third-Team All-American honors...was also named the New York Gatorade “Player of the Year,” Louisville Slugger’s “Player of the Year” for New York, and won the Paul Gibson Award, which honors the top pitcher on Long Island...Played three seasons at Duke University, going 15-13 with a 3.27 ERA (220.0IP, 80ER) in 48 games (27 starts)...earned All-America honors from Louisville Slugger (Second Team), Perfect Game USA (Second Team), National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association (Third Team) and Baseball America (Third Team) as a junior...was named First Team All-ACC and was an ACC Academic Honor Roll selection in 2012…led all NCAA pitchers in strikeouts (136) and finished second in strikeouts per nine innings (12.49) in his final year…was Duke’s first-ever first-round draft pick...completed his degree at Duke in the summer of 2015 while rehabbing his knee...Founded the Height Doesn’t Measure Heart (HDMH) Foundation in 2019 to create valuable opportunities for children and young people, especially those from inner cities and underserved areas, to rise above their circumstances and pursue their dreams...the HDMH Foundation seeks to set a positive example for kids and instill in them the idea that nothing can stop them from achieving their dreams if they put their minds to it...during the COVID-19 shutdown, Stroman’s HDMH Foundation supported the Food Bank For New York City and Long Island Cares, providing hunger assistance in both Nassau and Suffolk County...prior to one game each homestand of the 2024 season, Stroman met with guests in the Yankee Stadium Press Conference Room and took part in Q&A sessions, while also sharing stories, health and fitness tips, and general life advice, emphasizing the importance of outstanding work ethic, mental health, and education...In March 2024, the Marcus Stroman Height Doesn’t Measure Heart Foundation, in collaboration with the educational platform Bold.org, announced the launch of the Marcus Stroman Scholarship...the initiative aims to empower high school seniors, offering them a chance to pursue higher education without the burden of financial constraints...the scholarship has committed $250,000 over the next five years...Was the Yankees' 2024 nominee for the Roberto Clemente Award...marked his third career nomination (also 2017 with Toronto and '23 with Chicago-NL).
2024
In his first season with the Yankees, went 10-9 with one save and a 4.31 ERA (154.2IP, 167H, 81R/74ER, 60BB, 113K, 19HR) in 30 games (29 starts)...opponents batted .277/.349/.431 (167-for-603, 19HR); LH .296/.372/.474 (86-for-291, 10HR); RH .260/.327/.391 (81-for-312, 9HR)...Was the first New York-born pitcher to make at least 29 starts for the Yankees in a season since Pat Dobson made 30 starts in 1975...Allowed 3ER-or-fewer in 20 of his 29 starts, 2ER-or-fewer in 14 of those starts and 1ER-or-fewer in 11 of those starts...tossed five scoreless starts (0R in 6.0IP on 4/5 vs. Toronto, 0R in 6.0IP on 5/15 at Minnesota, 0R in 6.0IP on 5/25 at San Diego, 0R in 5.2IP on 6/11 at Kansas City and 0R in 6.0IP on 8/18 at Detroit in the MLB Little League Classic)...His 49.8 groundball percentage was the fourth-highest in the AL and eighth-highest in the Majors (min. 150.0IP)...Reached double-digit wins for the sixth time in his career...Made 14 appearances (13 starts) on the road, going 5-2 with a 3.09 ERA (70.0IP, 76H, 30R/24ER, 31BB, 39K, 4HR)...allowed 3ER-or-fewer in 10 of his 13 road starts, 2ER-or-fewer in eight starts and did not allow an earned run in five of those starts...the Yankees went 10-3 in his road starts...the Yankees' 10 wins in Stroman's road starts were tied for the fifth-most by any team in the Majors in a pitcher's road starts in 2024, trailing only San Diego's 13 wins in Dylan Cease's road starts, the Mets' 12 wins in Sean Manaea's road starts, Boston's 11 wins in Brayan Bello's road starts and Cleveland's 11 wins in Tanner Bibee's road starts...Was just the third Yankee in the last 57 years (since 1968) to toss at least 6.0IP and not allow an earned run in each of his first two starts of a season, joining Freddy García (first 2GS in 2011) and Ramiro Mendoza (first 2GS in 1999)...Made his Yankees debut on 3/30 at Houston, earning the win (6.0IP, 4H, 3R/0ER, 2BB, 4K, 0HR, 1HP)...Tossed six scoreless innings and did not record a decision in his first start in the Bronx as a Yankee on 4/5 vs. Toronto (6.0IP, 3H, 0R, 1BB, 6K)...according to Elias, was the seventh New York-born pitcher in franchise history to start the Yankees' home opener, joining Dave LaPoint (1990), John Candelaria (1989), Whitey Ford (1955-58, '60-64, '66-67), Ed Lopat (1949), Waite Hoyt (1927) and George Mogridge (1919)…started his club’s home opener for the fourth time in his career (also 2016, '19 and '23)...Recorded a season-high 9K on 4/23 vs. Oakland (5.1IP, 7H, 3ER, 1BB, 9K, 2HR, 1WP)...marked just the eighth time in his career he has recorded at least 9K in a game and his first since 8/17/21 at San Francisco with New York-NL (also 9K)...Surrendered 5BB in back-to-back starts on 4/28 at Milwaukee and 5/3 vs. Detroit...had not allowed at least 5BB in a game since 5/21/19 vs. Boston with Toronto (6BB)...Went undefeated in six straight starts from 5/15-6/11, going 4-0 with a 1.70 ERA (37.0IP, 7ER) in that span...Allowed 1R-or-fewer in three straight starts from 5/15-25 for the first time since a four-start stretch from 9/27/22-4/7/23...was his longest single-season streak since 7/9-29/22 (4GS)...Earned the win in four consecutive road starts from 5/15-6/11, posting a 0.36 ERA (25.0IP, 1ER) in that span...his streak of earning a win in four consecutive road starts matched the longest single-season streak of his career (also won four consecutive road starts from 5/19-6/20/23 with Chicago-NL; won six consecutive road starts from 9/20/14-5/1/16 with Toronto)...Allowed just 1R/ER in a season-high-tying 7.1 innings and did not record a decision in the Yankees' 5-4 loss on 5/20 vs. Seattle (3H, 1BB, 6K, 1HR)...marked his longest outing since 5/29/23 vs. Tampa Bay with Chicago-NL (9.0IP)...also allowed just 2R/1ER over 7.1 innings on 5/31 at San Francisco (5H, 2BB, 2K, 0HR)...Following a single to start the second inning, did not allow a hit to 18 consecutive batters on 6/22 vs. Atlanta before surrendering a two-run HR to Travis d'Arnaud in the seventh inning (his last batter faced)...retired 16-of-18 batters faced during that stretch (2BB)...Did not allow a HR in a career-high-tying eight straight starts from 8/2-9/25 (also 8G from 9/3/18-5/1/19)...Went 3-0 with a 2.35 ERA (23.0IP, 6ER) over a four-start stretch from 8/11-30...Did not record a decision despite tossing 6.0 scoreless innings against Detroit on 8/18 in the MLB Little League Classic (4H, 2BB, 5K, 1WP)...Reached 10 years of Major League service on 8/20...Was named by Major League Baseball as the Yankees' 2024 nominee for the Roberto Clemente Award on 9/9...marked his third career nomination (also 2017 with Toronto and '23 with Chicago-NL)...Earned his first save of the season (second of career) on 9/17 at Seattle after allowing 1R/ER over three innings of relief (5H, 0BB, 3K, 1HR)...marked his first relief appearance of the season and the ninth of his career (first since 9/16/23 at Arizona with Chicago-NL)...Was on the Yankees' ALCS and World Series rosters but did not pitch.
2023
Went 10-9 with a 3.95 ERA (136.2IP, 120H, 68R/60ER, 52BB, 119K, 9HR) in 27 games (25 starts/1SHO) with the Cubs…was an All-Star for the second time in his career…opponents batted .231/.304/.335 (120-for-519, 9HR); LH .194/.293/.282 (53-for-273, 4HR); RH .272/.318/.394 (67-for-246, 5HR)...Among Major League pitchers with at least 100.0 innings pitched, ranked second in groundball percentage (58.4) and home runs allowed per 9.0 innings (0.59), eighth in opponents’ slugging percentage (.335) and 12th in opponents’ OPS (.640)...Allowed 3ER-or-fewer in 18 of his 25 starts and 2ER-or-fewer in 16 of those starts...Reached double-digit wins for the fifth time in his career...In the first half of the season, went 9-6 with one shutout and a 2.96 ERA (112.2IP, 84H, 41R/37ER, 41BB, 98K, 6HR)...Made his third career Opening Day start on 3/30 vs. Milwaukee and earned the win after tossing 6.0 scoreless innings (3H, 3BB, 8K, 1WP)…marked his second first career Opening Day win...Went 9-4 with a 2.28 ERA (98.2IP, 25ER) in his first 16 starts from 3/30-6/20 before going 1-5 with an 8.29 ERA (38.0IP, 35ER) in his final 11 games (nine starts) from 6/25-9/28...His 2.28 ERA from 3/30-6/20 was the lowest ERA in the NL and third-lowest in the Majors over that span...Did not allow a run in three of his first four starts, going 2-1 with a 0.75 ERA (24.0IP, 2ER) and 25K in that span (3/30-4/18)…was the second Cubs pitcher since 1901 to record three starts of at least 6.0 scoreless innings within the Cubs' first 16 games, joining Jake Arrieta (three in 2016)…was also the third Cubs starting pitcher since 1901 to allow two-or-fewer total runs over his first four starts of a season (also Steve Stone in 1976 and Jason Hammel in 2016)...Won a career-high seven straight starts from 5/19-6/20, posting a 1.29 ERA (48.2IP, 7ER) over that span…was the first Cubs starter to win at least seven straight starts since Kyle Hendricks won eight straight starts from 5/16-6/22/21…his seven-game winning streak was the second-longest of his career (9G from 9/20/14-5/1/16)...Struck out Freddie Freeman looking in the third inning on 4/23 vs. Los Angeles-NL for his 1,000th career strikeout...Allowed 3ER-or-fewer in eight straight starts from 5/19-6/25, going 7-1 with a 1.73 ERA (52.0IP, 10ER) over that span…matched the second-longest streak of his career...Did not allow a HR over 53.2IP from 5/24-7/6…did not surrender a HR in seven straight starts from 5/29-7/1, the second-longest streak of his career (8G from 9/3/18-5/1/19)...Allowed just one hit and tossed his second career shutout on 5/29 vs. Tampa Bay (1BB, 8 K , 1H P)…marked his fourth career complete game and the first nine-inning complete game by a Cubs pitcher since Alec Mills' no-hitter on 9/13/20 at Milwaukee…took a no-hit bid into the seventh inning...Was named the NL "Player of the Week" for 5/29-6/4 after allowing just 1R/0ER in 15.0IP over two starts (2-0, 0.00 ERA, 5H, 4BB, 14K)...During the month of June, went 4-1 with a 2.17 ERA (29.0IP, 7ER)...Started the Cubs' second game in London vs. the Cardinals on 6/25 and took the loss (3.1IP, 8H, 6R/3ER, 1BB, 2K)…exited the game in the fourth inning with a blister on his right index finger...Was named to his second career All-Star team but did not pitch...Was placed on the 15-day injured list with right hip inflammation on 8/2 (retroactive to 8/1)…while on the injured list, also missed time due to a right rib cartilage fracture…missed 41 team games…was reinstated from the injured list on 9/15...Made two relief appearances from 9/15-16, his first relief appearances since September 2014...Pitched for Team Puerto Rico in the WBC and posted a 3.00 ERA (9.0IP, 7H, 3R/ER, 1BB, 4K, 2HR) in two starts.
2022
Marcus, in his first season with the Cubs in 2022 made 25 starts, posting a 6-7 record with a 3.50 ERA (54 ER/138.2 IP), 119 strikeouts and a 1.15 WHIP... Pitched to a 2.06 ERA (17 ER/74.1 IP) away from Wrigley Field...his road ERA was fourth-lowest among all major league hurlers, and second-lowest among N.L. pitchers (min 10 GS)... His 1.15 WHIP tied a career best (also 2021)....Was on the restricted list May 8-19...was on the 15-day injured list with right shoulder inflammation June 10-July 9 ... he made one rehab start with Triple-A Iowa on July 3 (5 ER/2.2 IP)....Recorded a team-leading 12 quality starts....Made his Cubs debut on April 10 vs. Milwaukee ... limited the Brewers to one run on two hits, three walks and struck out three batters in 5.0 innings....On April 15 at Colorado, made his first career start on MLB's Jackie Robinson Day....Faced Toronto for the first time in his career Aug. 30...threw 5.0 innings, allowed one run on three hits and two walks with one strikeout and did not record a decision....Pitched to a 0.89 ERA (2 ER/20.1 IP) in four starts in the month of July, the second-lowest ERA in the majors in that span (min. 20 IP)....Tossed 5.2 hitless innings on Sept. 16 vs. Colorado to begin the game, the second-longest no-hit in his career (6.0 innings, 7/24/14 vs. BOS; source: Elias).
2021
In his final season with the Mets in 2021, Marcus posted a 3.02 ERA (60 ER/179.0 IP) with a 10-13 record in 33 starts, tied for the most in the majors, walking 44 with 158 strikeouts... Set career bests in ERA, WHIP (1.15), strikeout rate (21.6 percent) and walk rate (6.0 percent)... His 3.02 ERA ranked eighth in the N.L. and ninth in the majors... Allowed 0.85 home runs per 9.0 innings, sixth in the N.L ... was 10th with 2.21 walks per 9.0 innings... Posted a 3.03 road ERA (34 ER/101.0 IP), the seventh-best mark in the majors... His 179.0 innings ranked 16th in the N.L. despite more than a quarter of his starts coming in seven-inning doubleheader games... Twice tossed a season-high 8.0 innings: April 18 at Colorado and July 21 at Cincinnati... Crossed the 1,000-inning threshold for his career, Aug. 28 vs. Washington.
2020
Opted out of the season due to concerns over the pandemic...Accepted the Mets' qualifying offer after the season.
2019
Went 4-2 with a 3.77 ERA (25 earned runs/59.2 innings) in his 11 starts with New York...The Mets were 8-3 in his 11 starts after he joined the team on July 28, winning each of his first four starts as well as his final four outings of the season.... Was 6-11 with a 2.96 ERA (41 earned runs/124.2 innings) with the Blue Jays.... His 3.22 ERA ranked 12th in the majors...Ranked fourth in the majors with a 54.7 percent ground ball rate...His 1.57 groundout/air out ratio was the sixth-highest in the majors...Finished the 2019 season ranked seventh in baseball with a 0.88 HR/9 ratio.... Threw 7.0 shutout innings on Opening Day for Toronto, his second career Opening Day start, and allowed just two hits.... In 14 starts on the road, Stroman was 6-4 with a 2.72 ERA (25 earned runs/82.2 innings)...That was the seventh-best road ERA in the majors...In five road starts with New York, Stroman went 2-0, allowing nine earned runs in 27.1 innings (2.96 ERA).... Stroman held right-handed batters to a career-low .220 batting average in 2019...Righties went just 74- 337 against Stroman with a .612 OPS (15th-lowest OPS against vs. RHB in the majors).... Was one of just six pitchers this season to pitch at least 170.0 innings and hit two or fewer batters (also, Merrill Kelly, Clayton Kershaw, Masahiro Tanaka, José Quintana and Zack Wheeler).
2018
Ranked 1st among MLB pitchers with a ground ball rate of 63.3% (min. 10 starts)... His 61.0 GB% since he reached the Majors in 2014 leads all pitchers ... Led all AL pitchers with 28 assists ... Had a 3.84 ERA (27 ER/63.1 IP) in 11 starts between his two DL stints... Landed on the DL from May 9-June 22 and again from Aug. 18-Sept. 2)... Had a 7.71 ERA (32 ER/37.1 IP) in seven starts prior to first DL stint ... On Opening Weekend, threw 5.0 innings on April 1 vs. NYY, allowing four runs on four hits... Struck out a 2018-best eight batters, his most ever in a first start of a season ... Allowed five runs on six hits over 4.2 innings on April 7 vs. TEX...Walked five batters, one shy of his career high (July 27, 2017 vs. OAK)... Was his 1st career game recording more balls than strikes (51-44) ... Tied a season-high with 7.0 innings of work on May 2 at MIN and allowed two runs on six hits for his 1st quality start of the year (1BB, 5K) ... Played in his 100th career game (94th start) on April 27 vs. TEX... Allowed 6ER in back-to-back starts for the 2nd time in his career (also May 28 (7) and June 4, 2016 (6)) ... Was placed on the 10-day disabled list from May 9-June 22 with right shoulder fatigue ... Was reinstated from the DL on June 23 and threw his only scoreless start of the year that night at LAA, allowing six hits through 5.0 IP (1BB, 5K) ... Earned his 1st win of the season on June 29 vs. DET... Also recorded his 500th career strikeout, fanning James McCann in the 5th inning…Became the 21st player to record 500 SO as a Blue Jay…Snapped his career-long streak of six consecutive lost decisions…Allowed two runs on five hits across 7.0 innings, matching his longest outing of the year (May 2 at MIN)… Recorded four strikeouts without issuing a free pass for his first walk-free start since Sept. 2, 2017 at BAL ... Made his 100th career start on July 10 at ATL... Earned his 1st road win of the season, allowing one run on six hits over 7.0 IP (2BB, 5K) ... Singled in his 1st at-bat of the season (July 10 at ATL)... Was his 3rd career hit, to go with a pinch-hit double and a home run in 2017... Has gone 3-for-10 (.300) as a batter since the start of 2017... His three hits are tied for 2nd most among pitchers in Blue Jays history (J.A. Happ-4, Roy Halladay-3, Woody Williams-3) ... Recorded his 8th loss on Aug. 1 at OAK, where he allowed allowed a season-high 11 hits and tied a career high by allowing seven earned runs (5th time) ... Pitched a two-hitter across 7.0 innings on Aug. 7 vs. BOS... Allowed one unearned run for his longest ER-free start since Aug. 11, 2017 vs. PIT (8.0 IP)…Was his 3rd career game of 7+ IP and two-or-less hits (2nd vs. BOS, also July 24, 2014), last doing on Sept. 24, 2016 vs. NYY (7.0 IP, 1H)…Exited the game prior to the 8th with a right middle-finger blister ... Took a no-decision on Aug. 12 vs. TB, allowing one run on five hits over 5.0 IP (1BB, 2K)...Was his 6th start of 1ER-or-less of the year, all of which came after his first DL stint ... In his last start before being placed on the DL for the 2nd time this season, on Aug. 17 at NYY, did not record a decision while giving up five runs in 4.0 innings (2BB, 2K) ... Was placed on the 10-day disabled list (retroactive to Aug. 18) with right middle finger blister ... Was activated from the DL prior to his 19th and final start of the season on Sept. 3 vs. TB...Threw 1.2 innings (6H, 4ER, 0BB, 1K)…Was tied for the 2nd shortest start of his career (Aug. 15, 2014 at CWS - 0.2 IP; Sept. 2, 2017 at BAL - 1.2 IP).
2017
Ranked 1st in the Majors in ground ball percentage (62.9%) and ground ball to fly ball ratio (3.59)...Has led the Majors in ground ball percentage in each of the last two seasons (61.4% in 2016) ... Ranked 1st in the Majors with 34 ground-ball double plays, the 2nd most in a season all-time by a Toronto pitcher (Stieb - 35 in 1980) ... Pitched 200+ innings for the second straight season, one of just seven pitchers to do so in both 2016 and 2017 ... Hurled 7+ innings 12 times while all other Toronto starters combined for 18 such outings ... Established career bests in wins (13), quality starts (20) and games started (33) ... Named an AL Gold Glove Winner...Led AL pitchers with a range factor/9 IP of 2.06 ... Allowed 3 ER or less in 26 of 33 starts...Allowed 1 ER or less on 14 occasions...Gave up six or fewer hits 23 times ... Posted a home ERA of 2.63 (34 ER/116.1 IP), 4th best in the AL and 4th best in franchise history (Clemens-1.52 in 1997; Hentgen-2.05 in 1994; Key-2.36 in 1987) ... Won his first start of the season on April 6 at TB, snapping a five-game losing streak dating back to 2016 ... Threw a complete game on April 12 vs. MIL, the first CG by a Blue Jay since R.A. Dickey on Sept. 2, 2015 vs. CLE ... Pitched another complete game (3rd career) on April 23 at LAA, just two starts after his last CG ... Put together a career-best six-game win streak over 10 starts from April 23-June 10 (2.77 ERA, 16BB/53K) ... Struck out a season-high 10 batters on April 28 vs. TB, his 2nd career 10+ strikeout game (13 SO on Aug. 1, 2016 at HOU) ... Left the game on May 3 at NYY after 3.0 innings with right shoulder tightness ... Gave up seven earned runs to tie a career high on seven hits over four innings on June 22 at TEX (4th time, last: June 19, 2016 at BAL) ... Threw a career-high 119 pitches over 7.2 scoreless innings on June 28 vs. BAL ... Was removed after five innings on July 3 at NYY with a blister issue on his middle finger (2 ER, 2BB, 3K) ... Issued a career-high six walks on July 27 vs. OAK before being ejected in the 5th inning by HP umpire Will Little ... Pitched 8.0 innings without allowing an ER on Aug. 11 vs. PIT, his longest outing without an ER since Sept. 8, 2014 vs. CHC (complete game shutout) ... Surrendered three homers for the 4th time in his career on Aug. 23 at TB (3rd time in 2017, last: June 22 at TEX) ... Left the game in the 2nd inning after being struck on the forearm by a Mark Trumbo line drive on Sept. 2 at BAL ... Over his last 18 starts, limited opponents to just 8-HR while posting a 2.58 ERA ... Over his last seven games, held left-handed hitters to a .145 AVG (8-for-55).
2016
Started the 2016 Wild Card Game vs. BAL on Oct 4, allowing two runs over six innings, leaving in a 2-2 tie...Jays would go on to win 5-2 in 11 innings on a 3-run walk-off Encarnacion HR...Suffered his first career postseason loss in game four of the ALCS after allowing four earned runs...His .171 opponents' average was the 5th lowest among all
pitchers in the playoffs (minimum 40 at-bats) ...Lost five consecutive starts (Sept. 2-29) for the first time in his career, despite tossing quality starts in three of those outings...Suffered the loss (5.0, 7H, 3ER, 2BB, 4K) on Aug. 7 at KC - his first defeat since June 26 at CWS (span of six starts)…Issued 2-BB, snapping a six-start streak in which he walked one or fewer, longest streak by a Jay since Mark Buehrle (6 straight) from July-Aug. 6, 2015…Committed two errors for the 1st time in his career…Became the 13th TOR pitcher (15th time) to record multiple errors in a game & 1st since Josh Johnson on July 3, 2013...On Aug. 1 at HOU struck out a career-high 13 batters, allowing just 1ER on three hits...Did not factor in the decision as the club would lose 2-1 in 14-innings...Marked the first 10+ strikeout game of his career...Matched his season-high with 8.0 IP, July 20 at ARI (5th time, last: July 6 vs. KC)...Did not issue a walk when tossing at least 8.0 IP for the second time in his career (last: Sept. 8, 2014 vs. CHC)...Suffered his first loss in seven career starts vs. BOS June 4 at Fenway Park... Allowed 6+ ER in consecutive starts for the first time in his career...Walked a career-high five, the first time he walked more than three in a start. Had his homerless innings streak at home snapped at 67.2, in his start vs. BOS on May 28…The home run (Bogaerts) also snapped a streak of 31.1 innings overall without allowing one…Marked the first home run given up to a BOS hitter in his career (37.0 IP)... On May 22, 2016 at MIN failed to strike out a RHB (15 at-bats) for the first time since Aug. 3, 2014 at HOU (min. 8 AB)...Suffered his first loss of the season May 17, 2016 vs. TB, snapping a streak of 16 starts without a defeat…Had his ninegame winning streak snapped as well…His seven earned runs allowed set a career-high...May 1 at TB allowed one run over eight innings and was rewarded with the victory when Toronto scored four runs in the top of the ninth for a 5-1 win over the Rays...Had a then career-high 9 SO, most ever by a Blue Jays pitcher on their birthday…Retired 17 of his last 18 batters faced...On April 3, 2016 at TB came within three outs of joining Jack Morris in 1992 as the only TOR starters with a CG on Opening Day…At 8.0 IP, tied Pat Hentgen in 1997 for the 2nd longest start by a Jay on Opening Day…At 24 years, 338 days was the youngest starter to go at least 8.0 IP on Opening Day since Felix Hernandez in 2009 (22 years, 363 days) & the youngest to pitch into the 9th frame since Mark Mulder in 2002 (24 years, 239 days)...Became just the 2nd pitcher in Blue Jays history to start a season opener and a home opener in the same season...Joins Jimmy Key who did so in 1989...Became the 3rd youngest pitcher (24.338) to make an Opening Day start for TOR ...Drew Hutchison (24.227) was the youngest in 2015 with Todd Stottlemyre (24.324) being 2nd youngest in 1990...At 5'8", he was the shortest Opening Day starting pitcher since 1971 - Tom Phoebus, San Diego (also 5'8").
2015
Made four starts after returning from left knee surgery (torn ACL) suffered in spring training. Over his last three starts, allowed just 2ER in 22.0 IP. Dating back to 2014, has won eight of his last nine decisions (10 starts) with a 2.19 ERA (65.2IP/16ER). Finished the season with 7+IP starts in three consecutive outings, the 2nd time in his short career to do so. Has allowed just one earned run over his last 27.0 innings pitched at Rogers Centre (0.33 ERA). Became the 4th Blue Jays pitcher to win each of his first four starts of a season with an ERA under 2.00. The others are Jimmy Key in 1991 (1.86 ERA), Pat Hentgen in 1993 (1.67) and Mark Buehrle in 2014 (0.64). Became just the first modern era pitcher to win his first four starts of the season in September for a first place team. Posted a GB% of 64.1 in his four starts after a 53.8% in 2014...Only three other pitcher finished with GB% above 60% this season (Anderson-66.3%, Keuchel-61.7%, Ross-61.5%)...His GB% of 55.6% over last two seasons would rank 6th in MLB. Over his last two Septembers is 7-1 with a 2.17 ERA in nine games (eight starts). Sept 18 vs. BOS led the Jays to the 6-1 victory after tossing 7.0 IP, allowing just one run in his 1st start at Rogers Centre this year…Became the 4th TOR pitcher to win each of his first four career starts vs. BOS. Made two rehab starts, one for Lansing (A) , tossing 4.2 no-hit innings and one for Buffalo (AAA), 3IP, 8H, 4ER. In his first career start in the playoffs, allowed three runs over the first two frames before retiring 15 of the next 18 batters faced. Allowed a career-high 11 hits in game three of the ALCS vs. KC…Gave up four earned runs over 6.1 innings to earn his first career postseason win…The four earned runs given up in the start were the most he had surrendered since September 15, 2014 at BAL. Five of the nine earned runs he allowed in the playoffs came in the first two innings (7.50 ERA).
2014
Made 20 starts in his rookie season... Joined the club on May 4 and made five appearances in relief (ML debut at PIT on May 4) before being optioned on May 18...Was recalled to make his ML debut as a starter on May 31 vs. KC and remained in the rotation for the balance of the season...As a starter went 10-6 with a 3.29 ERA... Overall, 14 of his 20 starts were quality starts which was 3rd on the club...Went at least six innings with 2 ER or less in 13 of 20 and 3 ER or less in 15 of 20...Posted a 53.8 GB%, which would have ranked him 6th in AL had he enough IP to qualify...Gave up just two home runs over his final 13 appearances (12 starts) totalling 77.1 innings... In fact allowed just 0.45 HR/9 as a starter, the best figure on the staff... Only Garrett Richards with a 0.29 HR/9 had a better number in the AL among qualifiers...Earned three consecutive victories from July 19-29, allowing just one run over 21.0 IP...Included was a one-hit, seven inning performance vs. Boston on July 24 at Rogers Centre...Lost his no-hitter when Victorino singled leading off the 7th...Matched the three straight wins from Aug. 27-Sept. 8 and also won four of his final five decisions...In his last appearance of the season on Sept. 26 vs. BAL, worked 4.0 scoreless innings in relief to record his 1st career save...It marked the 7th time (6th different player) in club history that a TOR pitcher has recorded at least 10 wins as a starter while collecting a save in the same season (last: Shaun Marcum - 2007, 11 wins/1 save), 1st time by a rookie...Is just the 5th rookie pitcher in the ML to accomplish the feat since 1990 (last: Francisco Liriano in 2006)...Picked up his 1st Major League victory on May 6 at PHI...Entered in the 9th inning of a 5-5 tie, holding the Phillies scoreless...Jays would add one in 10th for a 6-5 win...In his ML debut as a starter May 31 vs. KC picked up his 2nd career win with six innings of one-run ball (12-2 win)...Began the season in Buffalo making seven starts posting a 2-4 record with a 3.03 ERA... Walked more than one batter on just one occasion and allowed just one home run all season...Fanned 45 batters in 35.2 innings and owned a 5:1 strikeout to walk ratio... Opponents hit .239 at AAA with RH batters being limited to a .218 mark...Of his 32 hits allowed, just three went for extra bases (2-2B, HR)...Prior to his first recall tossed six no-hit innings vs. Louisville, adding 10 strikeouts...Among rookies ranked T-4th in wins (11) and 3rd in winning pct. (.647) despite ranking only T-10th in starts (20)... His .625 winning pct. as a starter is the highest in club history (Chacin (05) and Romero (09) both posted a .591 pct at 13-9)... His 11 wins as a rookie are the most by a Blue Jay since Ricky Romero won 13 in 2009 and is 5th most in team history...Became just the 9th TOR rookie to throw a ShO of at least 9.0 IP (last: Dave Bush on Oct. 1, 2004 vs. NYY-2H) vs. the Cubs on Sept. 8...Is just the 2nd TOR rookie to toss a ShO without walking a batter (Halladay-Sept. 27, 1998 vs. DET)… Is the 6th different TOR rookie to record at least two, 9.0 IP outings in the same season (1st since John Cerutti, 1986)...The others are Jerry Garvin (9x, 1977), Jim Clancy (3x, 1977), Dave Stieb (6x, 1979), Phil Huffman (2x, 1979) & John Cerutti (2x, 1986)...Was one of four rookies to throw a shutout in 2014, however was the only one to hold their opponent to three or fewer base runners...Is one of six rookies to have at least 10 wins...Was one of three Blue Jays to post 6+ strikeouts with zero walks in their 1st career MLB start, joining Jose Nunez (11K/0BB) vs. KC on 7/9/87 and Brett Cecil (6K/0BB) vs. CLE on 5/5/09.
