Matthew Scott Strahm…is the son of Tim and Linda...has an older sister, Britta, and a younger brother, Ben, who currently plays baseball at Northeastern State University...resides in West Fargo, N.D. in the offseason, with his wife, Megan...graduated from West Fargo High School (ND) in 2010...attended Neosho County Community College (KS) and graduated in 2012...posted a 9-3 record with a 1.48 ERA and 129 strikeouts in 99.0 innings in two seasons... helped team reach NJCAA World Series in 2012...bypassed an opportunity to play at Nebraska when he signed with the Royals (by scout Matt Price)...has a dog named Lolly...enjoys fishing and hunting and listening to Tim McGraw... favorite movie is The Sandlot and TV show is How I Met Your Mother...all-time favorite baseball player is Darin Erstad...roots for his own fantasy football team.
2017
Split the season between Omaha (AAA) and KC before undergoing surgery on his torn left patellar tendon and acquired by SD on 7/24... Made the his first career Opening Day roster for KC and made three relief appearances before being optioned to Omaha on 4/11, where he allowed just two hits and no runs in 5.0 IP in four relief appearances... Recalled by KC on 4/21 and tossed scoreless outings in 13 of his next 16 outings from 4/21-6/5, going 1-0 with a 1.45 ERA (3ER, 18.2 IP)... Earned the win in his first career start on 6/14 at LAA, working 5.0 IP of three-hit ball allowing one unearned run in KC's 7-2 victory... Tagged with the loss in his next two starts, allowing five earned runs on both 6/20 vs. BOS and 6/27 at DET... Sustained a torn patellar tendon in his left knee on 7/1 vs. MIN...underwent surgery on 7/7... Acquired by SD along with LHP Travis Wood and INF Esteury Ruiz from KC in exchange for LHP Ryan Buchter and RHPs Trevor Cahill and Brandon Maurer on 7/24.
2016
Made his Major League debut on July 31 at Texas and made 21 relief appearances during his rookie campaign…recalled from Northwest Arkansas (AA)...Had the longest scoreless streak by a Royals' hurler in 2016, going 16.1 consecutive frames without a run from Aug. 2 to Sept. 10…it was the longest streak by a Royals rookie since Yordano Ventura (18.0) in 2014...During his scoreless streak, which spanned 12 appearances, held opponents to a .120 average (6-for- 50) and allowed four walks compared to 20 strikeouts...Held opponents to a .173 batting average (13-for-75), seventh lowest among AL relievers that faced at least 80 hitters…among Royals rookies that faced at least 80 hitters. only Joel Johnston (.120 in 1991) had a lower opponents' average...Recorded at least one strikeout in each of his first 10 outings...Fanned five in a 2.0-inning appearance vs. the White Sox on Aug. 9…it marked the most strikeouts by a Royals rookie in an outing of 2.0 innings or less, and the most by any Royal since Luke Hochevar in 2013...His 12.27 strikeouts per 9.0 innings (30 SO in 22.0 IP) ranked 10th in the AL (min. 20.0 IP), and fourth in Royals history...Allowed just one earned run in eight home appearances (0.96 ERA), holding opponents to a .133 average (4- for-30) with no extra-base hits...Earned his first Major League win on Aug. 17 at Detroit, pitching out of a bases-loaded jam in the seventh inning and recording a scoreless eighth in front of a four-run Royals rally…induced a double play off the bat of Miguel Cabrera to get out of the bases loaded threat in the seventh...Entered the season rated as the Royals' No. 8 prospect by Baseball America
2015
Matt was named an All-Star for the first time in his career, being selected to the South Atlantic League (A) game... however, he did not participate due to his promotion to Wilmington (A-Advanced) on June 13…Combined to post a 3-7 record with a 2.59 ERA in 29 appearances (11 starts) between his two stops...posted a career-high 121 strikeouts in 94.0 innings...his 10.99 Ks per 9.0 IP in the Carolina League (83 in 68.0 IP) would have ranked third in the league if he had enough innings to qualify, while his 0.99 WHIP would have ranked 11th…Fanned nine in three different appearances during the season, including striking out nine of the 10 hitters he faced on May 27 vs. Kannapolis in a 3.0-inning relief appearance...he also allowed one walk in the game…Dropped six-straight decisions, despite posting a 3.05 ERA (19 ER in 56.0 IP) after July 1.
