Photo via NDHSAA
Matt Strahm, a native of North Dakota, was named an MLB All-Star on Sunday. He’ll be one of seven Philadelphia Phillies represented in the event. The left-handed relief pitcher owns a 1.59 ERA in 36 games this year.
Strahm, 32, was born in West Fargo. He graduated from West Fargo High School in 2010. He’s the first North Dakota high school alum to be named an MLB All-Star since Jamestown’s Darin Erstad in 1992. Roger Maris, a graduate of Fargo Shanley High School, has the most All-Star selections of any former North Dakota high schooler, tallying up seven in his MLB career.
After West Fargo, Strahm played for Neosho County Community College in Chanute, Kansas. He was selected in the 21st round of the 2012 MLB draft by the Kansas City Royals. He debuted with the Royals in 2016, and was traded to the San Diego Padres in 2017.
He put up a strong 2018 campaign for the Padres, with a 2.05 ERA in 41 games, but inconsistencies and injuries led him to the free agent market in 2021. He had a good year for the Boston Red Sox in 2022, then an even better year for the Phillies in 2023 with a 3.29 ERA in a career-high 56 games.
Now, he’s taken further strides. He’s been a key reliever on a Phillies team that leads MLB with a 58-32 record.
In 34 innings pitched, Strahm has struck out 45 and walked just four. He’s allowed seven runs (six earned).
The 2024 MLB All-Star Game will be held on Tuesday, July 16, at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas.
