Blue Jays 2015 Year End Awards: Best Social Media Presence
By Ryan Andrews
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2015 Social Media Award Winner: Marcus Stroman
When Marcus Stroman went down to a torn ACL on March 9th, there was a sense of shock and utter despair that coursed through the baseball world. One of the brightest young talents in the game had been cut down on a bunt drill, the equivalent of Adele breaking her vocal cords while singing a Nickelback song. He felt the pain and he shared it with the nation:
Beyond devastated. Not being able to compete with my brothers each and every day is extremely disappointing. Still can't believe it.
— Marcus Stroman (@STR0) March 10, 2015
Expected to miss the entire season, he went back to Duke University to complete his degree and begin the long rehab process. However his mind was always on the Blue Jays. On June 22nd, a tweet from Blue Jays radio broadcaster Mike Wilner unexpectedly gave the fan base a shot in the arm:
@Wilnerness590 @KlipKyle where's there's a will, there's a way Mike. #HDMH
— Marcus Stroman (@STR0) June 22, 2015
Fans were excited now, and Stroman was just as excited with them. When the Blue Jays acquired David Price, Stroman found out the same way this writer found out about the Vernon Wells trade: On his phone while sitting in class:
Pardon my rudeness for being on my phone Professor. We just picked up @DAVIDprice14 and it's kind of a big deal. Lol @DukeU @BlueJays
— Marcus Stroman (@STR0) July 30, 2015
As August rolled on, not only were Blue Jays fans excited by the play on the field, but the news off the field. Finally when Stroman posted this photo, just five and a half months after the ACL tear, it was as if the trade deadline was occurring all over again:
Fruition. #HDMH pic.twitter.com/209VIiRJ9c
— Marcus Stroman (@STR0) August 27, 2015
Two weeks later, six months after it was universally declared that he would be seeing us in 2016, Stroman stepped onto the field against the New York Yankees. Two weeks after that, the playoff drought was over. #Squadgoals were met:
#SQUADGOALS @BlueJays #PLAYOFFS pic.twitter.com/BipHS60BJP
— Marcus Stroman (@STR0) September 26, 2015
Stroman’s off-season has continued his whirlwind path to stardom, as he was a prominent guest on FOX Sports’ coverage of the World Series. Even now, he continues to train to rebuild the strength in his knee, offering the same kind of words of wisdom he has been for the past three years.
If you don't grind, you don't shine.
— Marcus Stroman (@STR0) November 17, 2015
Words to live by. Congrats Marcus Stroman on winning the 2015 Social Media Award, an award that’s probably going to be named for him in another year or two.