Thanks to his 100 mph fastball, San Diego State pitcher Stephen Strasburg is about to become a very rich man.
He was taken with the first overall pick in the Major League Baseball Draft by the Washington Nationals on Tuesday.
Strasburg, with Scott Boras as his agent, will likely receive a guaranteed contract in the $15-20 million range. He could end up playing in the Major Leagues by the end of the season.
It's been reported that Strasburg is looking for a $50 million payday.
The pick was no surprise. After Strasburg, the level of quality in the draft candidates drops significantly.
"Oh, it's a terrific dropoff," Los Angeles Angels scouting director, Eddie Bane, said. "You don't want to admit that, but this guy, like everybody said, is a once-in-a-lifetime guy."
While Strasburg was striking out overmatched college hitters at San Diego State, Major League teams spent the spring sorting through the best of the rest, including North Carolina slugger Dustin Ackley, Missouri right-hander Kyle Gibson and high school outfielder Donavan Tate.
The Nationals are the first team to own a pair of picks in the top 10. They get the 10th choice as compensation for failing to sign their selection at No. 9 last year, Missouri pitcher Aaron Crow.
