Washington Nationals Get Their Future Ace
The Q Beat
The Nationals got their future ace.
Taking the player at the top of every scouting chart, Washington selected San Diego State right-hander Stephen Strasburg with the 
first overall pick in the 2009 First-Year Player Draft on Tuesday.
The Nationals feel strongly that Strasburg can make an immediate impact in their rotation, maybe joining their Major League roster as early as September, and have made no secret that he would be their choice.
If he is promoted to the big leagues this year, Strasburg will become only the third pitcher in baseball history to be drafted No. 1 and play in the Majors in the same season, joining Rangers left-hander David Clyde in 1973 and Orioles right-hander Ben McDonald in ‘89.
Strasburg is the third pitcher to be selected with the No. 1 overall pick in four years, with Tampa Bay’s David Price (2007) and Kansas City’s Luke Hochevar (2006) already playing in the Majors. Strasburg is the 14th pitcher taken with the first pick in the 45-year history of the Draft.
Washington’s pick marks the seventh time in eight years that the Nationals/Expos franchise has taken a pitcher in the first round.
The Nationals added another pitcher with the 10th overall pick, selecting Stanford University right-hander Drew Storen. Storen was a closer in college, going 7-1 with seven saves and a 3.80 ERA in 2009. He had 66 strikeouts in 42 2/3 innings of relief.
“He has power and command along with an advanced feel for pitching,” said Nationals scouting director Dana Brown. “That’s what makes him special.
“He still has to go through his bumps and bruises, but when a guy has power, command and a good feel for pitching, he is on the fast track.”
Strasburg, 20, went 13-1 with a 1.32 ERA in 15 starts this season at San Diego State en route to being named a Golden Spikes Award finalist. He struck out 195 batters with just 19 walks in 109 innings.
Here is more on Strasburg on MLB.com.
Here is the Draft Order.
Here is a Draft Tracker from MLB.com.
Q June 9 2009
