PHOENIX, Ariz.–Since joining the Giants’ rotation at the beginning of August, rookie Chris Stratton has made a strong impression.
The franchise’s first round draft choice back in 2012 has registered back-to-back scoreless outings, which includes a start in which he registered 6.2 innings and 10 strikeouts against the National League East-leading Washington Nationals.
Stratton’s road to the big leagues, and path to the Giants’ rotation hasn’t been easy, but it has been a fascinating journey to follow. On Friday afternoon, I sat down with Stratton to discuss his baseball career dating back to his Little League days, and he made a pair of connections to former Giants’ legends that struck me.
Back in his college days at Mississippi State, Stratton spent a summer playing in the Cape Cod League playing for the Harwich Mariners, which is the same franchise that hosted former Giants’ legend Tim Lincecum. Though Stratton pitched in the Cape League nearly a decade after the former Giants’ ace, he told an interesting story about the legacy Lincecum left in Harwich.
“Our head coach was the assistant coach at Boston College, don’t really know his name, we just called him E,” Stratton said. “He said there’s only one time, one player that I ever had that closed out the games where I could pack my stuff up and leave and that was Tim Lincecum. He said as soon as he got on the mound, I knew the game was over with, and that we could leave. I think he ended up throwing too many innings in college and was a reliever there and just closed.”
After returning from Harwich for his junior season with the Bulldogs, Stratton transformed into one of the most dominant pitchers in college baseball, earning SEC Pitcher of the Year and All-America honors.
Stratton’s junior season propelled him to the top of Major League draft boards, and in June of 2012, San Francisco selected him with the 20th overall pick. Stratton wasn’t the first Mississippi State player the Giants had drafted in the first round, as he followed Will Clark, who the Giants took with the second overall selection back in 1985. Stratton said he met Clark during his college years, and said Clark still has a major influence around the Bulldogs’ program.
“Will Clark is a figure all around Mississippi State, so you see things about him. He actually came to a few of our games when we played at LSU. That’s where he lives during the season so he would come by and say some words to us but he’s a great guy, he keeps the fans involved and he keeps everybody happy. But he’s a great guy to learn some things from.”
To listen to my full interview with Stratton, click the podcast link below.