Former Rochester Honker, Matt Strahm, debuted with the Kansas City Royals on Sunday, July 31, 2016. He debuted against the Texas Rangers in a relief role, and allowed one hit, recorded one strikeout and walked one before being replaced.
Strahm played for the Honkers in 2011 where he was 1-1 with a 2.92 ERA in four games, all of which were starts. He threw 24.2 innings, allowed 18 hits, eight runs, struck out 22 and walked 12. He also held opponents to a .200 average.
Here is the full release from the Northwoods League:
Rochester, Minn. – Former Rochester Honker, Matt Strahm, made his Major League debut for the Kansas City Royals on Sunday, July 31, 2016. Strahm is the 155th former Northwoods League player to reach the Major League level.
Strahm, who played collegiately at Neosha County Community College in Kansas, played for the Rochester Honkers in 2011. He was drafted by the Kansas City Royals in the 21st round of the 2012 MLB Draft.
In 2011 with the Honkers, Strahm was 1-1 with a 2.92 ERA in four games. He also struck out 22 batters in 24.2 innings pitched.
Strahm started his Minor League career in 2012 with the Idaho Falls Chukars of the Rookie Pioneer League. He went 1-3 with a 5.64 ERA over 19 games and struck out 42 batters in 30.1 innings pitched.
After the 2012 season his arm began to hurt and team doctors discovered that the ulnar collateral ligament in his left arm was stretched out. Strahm underwent Tommy John surgery during the second half of the 2013 season and missed nearly all of 2014.
The 2014 season saw Strahm return to Idaho Falls. Over 10 appearances with the Chukars he went 1-0 with a 2.33 ERA and struck out 27 batters in 19.1 innings.
Strahm spent the 2015 season with two teams. He began the year with the Lexington Legends in the Lo-A South Atlantic League before a promotion, after 14 games, to the Wilmington Blue Rocks of the Hi-A Carolina League. Between the two clubs he went a combined 3-7 with a 2.59 ERA while continuing his high strikeout rate with 121 in 94.0 innings pitched.
Prior to his call up to the Royals, Strahm was 3-8 with a 3.43 ERA over 22 appearances with the AA Northwest Arkansas Naturals of the AA Texas League. He had also struck out 107 batters in 102.1 innings pitched.
In his Major League debut against the Texas Rangers, Strahm entered in relief of Royals starter and former Brainerd Blue Thunder pitcher Dillon Gee in the top of the 7th inning. Strahm gave up a single to Mitch Moreland before striking out Ryan Rua and walking Robinson Chirinos. Strahm was then replaced by Peter Moylan.
The Honkers are in Duluth tonight to take on the Duluth Huskies, with first pitch set for 6:35 p.m. On Wednesday, the Honkers will take on the Huskies again in Duluth with first pitch set for 6:35 p.m. The Honkers will be back at home on Thursday to take on the Battle Creek Bombers for Team Trading Card Set Night presented by Pepsi and 106.9 KROC, where the first 1,000 fans will get a set of team trading cards. First pitch is set for 7:05 p.m. and gates open at 6. The Honkers will take on the Bombers again for Fireworks Extravaganza presented by Wells Fargo and ABC 6 News. First pitch is set for 7:05 p.m. and gates open at 6:00!
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The Rochester Honkers are a member of the finest developmental league for elite college baseball players, the Northwoods League. Playing its 23rd season of summer collegiate baseball, the Northwoods League is the largest organized baseball league in the world with 18 teams, drawing significantly more fans, in a friendly ballpark experience, than any league of its kind. A valuable training ground for coaches, umpires and front office staff, more than 150 Northwoods League players have advanced to Major League Baseball, including Cy Young Award winner Max Scherzer (WAS) and MLB All-Stars Chris Sale (CWS), Jordan Zimmermann (DET), Curtis Granderson (NYM), Lucas Duda (NYM) and Ben Zobrist (CHC). All league games are viewable live via the Northwoods League portal. For more information, visit www.rochesterhonkers.com or download the new Northwoods League Mobile App on the Apple App Store and set the Honkers as your favorite team!
