The National Answer?

Connor Folse

At 12-28, 10.5 games out of first place in their division, and with the worst record in baseball, the Washington nationals need an answer. They need to find some kind of light at the end of the tunnel that right now, seems pitch black. That light could be 20 year-old Stephen Strasburg out of San Diego, California.

The 6'4'' 220 pound right hander is currently in his senior year at San Diego State University and is projected to be the number one overall pick by the Washington Nationals in the 2009 Major League Baseball Draft. His fastball tops out at 103 MPH and he packs a curveball and a low 90's slider as well. Strasburg finished his Junior year 8-0 with a 1.27 E.R.A. and 147 strikeouts in 97 innings of work . The highlight of his junior year was on April 11th, 2008 when he struck out 23 batters in a game against the University of Utah. This year, his numbers are even more disgusting as he is 13-0 with a 1.24 E.R.A. in 102 innings of work to go along with an astonishing 180 strikeouts compared to only 19 walks.

Strasburg was the lone collegiate player selected for the U.S. Olympic Baseball Team at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing. Strasburg one-hit the Netherlands over seven innings and he struck out five of the first six batters he faced. Strasburg finished the Olympic Games 1-1 with a 0.64 E.R.A. Many scouts have called Strasburg a once in a decade talent but unknown to most is the fact that Strasburg wasn't always thought of so highly.

Coming out of high school Strasburg was out of shape. The man responsible for whipping Strasburg into shape was Aztecs' strength coach Dave Ohton. When Strasburg first came to Ohton he could not get through four sprints without vomiting. Ohton nicknamed Strasburg "sloth" and demoralized Strasburg in hopes of motivating him to get in shape. After two weeks of conditioning, Ohton approached Strasburg and said, "you really should consider quitting. You're not going to make it." Strasburg made Ohton eat his words. When Strasburg arrived at San Diego State he could do one bench press at 115 pounds; now he can do 21 reps at 135 pounds. He leg-pressed 560 pounds; now he leg-presses 1,200 pounds. His vertical jump was 24 inches; now it's 35 inches. Coming into San Diego State, Strasburg's fastball was only in the low 90's and it now tops out at 102-103 MPH. Strasburg has worked his way up the ladder and in four years at San Diego State University he has gone from an out of shape athlete to the best pitching prospect in the nation.

It is this type of work ethic, discipline, and pure talent that the Nationals need to turn it around. Strasburg may come at a high price but isn't it worth it if he has any chance of being the key to unlocking the woes of the lowly Washington Nationals?