This year, with the Lansing Lugnuts, Sam Strickland has posted a 3-1 record with a 4.98 ERA.

Sam Strickland was selected by the Toronto Blue Jays in the 25th round (760th overall) of the 2009 amateur entry draft. While he has played for the GCL Blue Jays, the Auburn Doubledays, and presently plays for the Lansing Lugnuts, many Blue Jays fans still do not know much about the left-handed pitcher. Jays Prospects was fortunate enough to have the opportunity to ask the young 24-year-old a few questions.

The first question that was asked was one that the young player anticipated. Strickland was asked what his favourite MLB team(s) and players were while he was growing up. Given his hometown, his response was also not surprising: “Growing up in Houston, Texas I was of course an Astros fan. I grew up during the careers of both Craig Biggio and Jeff Bagwell. Though I liked both, I grew up playing first base and often hitting clean-up (4th) as did Jeff Bagwell. I loved to watch him hit long homeruns and play a superb first base. As for now, as I have not been a hitter for the past six years of my life I look more to another Astros player I admired, Roy Oswalt. I love the way he goes right after batters with his best stuff. He doesn’t try to trick them or nibble at the strike zone – he attacks them, a great mindset for any young pitcher to watch and try to take on himself.” 

In 2009, with the GCL Blue Jays, Strickland posted a 1-5 record with a 4.32 ERA, allowing 20 earned runs, while striking out 29 and walking 23 in over 41 innings pitched. His performance and confidence on the mound earned him a promotion to the Auburn Doubledays in 2010, where he improved greatly, posting a 3-6 record with a 4.02 ERA. The biggest development was in his strikeouts, which more than doubled, striking out 45 while only walking 22.

This year, with the Lansing Lugnuts, Strickland has once again continued to show improvement. He has posted a 3-1 record this year with a 4.98 ERA, striking out 58 and walking only 25. He has also allowed only five homeruns in over 77 innings pitched.

While success with the Blue Jays organization, Strickland explains how his favorite moment on the mound came as a Junior in college.

Despite his success within the Blue Jays organization, when asked if he had a favorite moment on the mound, Strickland discussed his experience when he was a junior in college. As Strickland explains, “I went to a small school and we didn’t receive much attention on a large scale. But in the conference tournament that year, while the bottom seed, we succeeded in beating the fourth-ranked team in the country, twice, to both upset the seeding and win the tournament! I started both games with a three-day rest in between. That season absolutely turned my career around, as I had only 35 innings total and a 7.00 ERA after my first two college seasons. By the end of the year, I was #1, and leading the team in almost every statistical category and helping win a conference championship.” He also added, “That being said, I could not have done it without the great teammates I had behind me.” 

Strickland has enjoyed his time both on and off the mound as a member of the Lansing Lugnuts

Strickland now has the opportunity to bring his present team, the Lansing Lugnuts, a championship as well. When asked about his experience as a Lugnut, the 24-year-old explained, “Lansing is a great venue for minor league baseball. I always brag to people back home that I get to spend my summer “up north” out of the Texas heat. To do so in Lansing makes bragging all the easier. The fans are dedicated and lively and the boosters are amazing. This season has been a lot of fun and having already clinched a playoff spot, I can only hope to bring them a championship!”

 

Knowing his personal success this year, Strickland was then asked what his best skill was on the mound. He responded, “My best skill on the mound? Well, in a way I’m still discovering it. That’s what minor leagues are all about! To become consistently good at serving your purpose, once you’ve figured out what it is. This year, as my first as a reliever, I believe my best skill on the mound is finding a way to fulfill my many roles. As a left-handed pitcher, I have been asked to be a long reliever to cover many innings, to come in for only a few outs at a time and retire left-handed batters, or to close a few games.”  

Strickland has recently graduated from college, and is now an E.I.T

Strickland also explained that his best skill off the field was utilizing his degree in Civil Engineering. In the off-season, he works fulltime as an Engineer in Training (E.I.T). After four years, Strickland hopes to become a fully-licensed, design engineer. He explains, “Off the field, this is definitely the skill I am most proud of. My Mom and Dad have always pushed me to excel academically. Graduating near the top of my class in high school and testing highly on my exams allowed me to attend the college of my choice with academic scholarship.”

Sam Strickland is very close with his family; his siblings Matt and Elizabeth and his parents, Tim and Carol.

When asked to elaborate on how his family has impacted his career, Strickland explained that all of his successes can be attributed to his family: “ reason I am where I am today.” Strickland stated. “My dad gave me his love of sports and competitive drive to win, while my mom taught me discipline to be applied to all facets of my life. The virtues they have instilled in me in my upbringing have prepared me perfectly for my professional career. I was never the highly touted draftee or prospect. Not in high school, college, or now. Yet, with the tools my parents have given me, I continue to find a way to advance. My family has influenced my life and pro career greatly, all for the better. My older brother, Matt, and younger sister, Elizabeth, do nothing but support me as well.”

Strickland explains that they have not only given the tools to advance, but have also taught him the importance of hard work and perseverance. He states, that his father, Tim Strickland, has worked two jobs so him and his family could have everything they needed. Sam stated, “ any other person I have ever known. My work ethic still pales in comparison, and I only wish that someday I can teach my children as he did me.” 

Strickland believes his parents, Tim and Carol, have taught him the skills to succeed both on and off the field

The Lugnut also shared information with Jays Prospects that he has not shared with many, announcing how his mother, Carol Strickland, has also been an amazing role model: “My mother was diagnosed with breast cancer in October of this past off season. While I actually haven’t shared that information with anyone until now, (as I didn’t think I should trouble others with it), I feel this is a great opportunity to let people know how great my parents are since they would probably never do so themselves. The last year has been very emotional for us as a family, yet after treatment wound down for my mother she insisted they drive from Texas to Michigan to see me play. I have written underneath the bill of my game caps to ‘Fight like C.J.S.’ [His mother's initials]. It is always there to remind me during the games I pitch in.”

Strickland concludes, “We are an extremely close family, and I am proud on my entire family, as I am only a product of them and how great they are.” 

With such a strong foundation, it is evident that Strickland is bound for great things, both on and off the field.

JaysProspects would like to thank Sam Strickland for his time and wish him (and his family) the best of luck in the future.