Blue Jays' Stroman shines in hitless rehab debut: 'I'm ready, man'

Three weeks ago, after Marcus Stroman threw off a mound for the first time since tearing his ACL during spring training, Toronto Blue Jays manager John Gibbons was cautiously optimistic the right-hander could return this season, but insisted, "We can't get carried away here."

Gibbons might not be able to keep his expectations in check when he hears what the 24-year-old did Wednesday night in his first rehab start.

Stroman didn't allow a hit over 4 2/3 scoreless innings for the Low-A Lansing Lugnuts, fanning seven while issuing just one walk on 69 pitches in his first professional outing since last September.

"I though he looked really good," Blue Jays special assistant Pat Hentgen told Sportsnet's Arden Zwelling.

"I didn't think he favored his knee at all," Hentgen added. "I thought overall he looked good. I thought he threw really well."

Stroman, who emerged as a fixture in Toronto's rotation with his sublime 2014 rookie campaign, was initially expected to miss the entire 2015 season after shredding his knee in March. Instead, the former first-round pick will throw a bullpen session in Toronto on Friday and, barring a setback, will start Monday for Triple-A Buffalo before rejoining the Blue Jays.

If it were up to Stroman, however, he'd probably skip Monday's outing against the Pawtucket Red Sox.

"I'm ready, man," Stroman told Brendan Kennedy of the Toronto Star. "I'm more motivated and more hungry now than I've ever been. I'm ready to get back to the big leagues."

Asked last month what role Stroman can expect when he returns to Toronto - which sits atop the American League East after collecting 22 wins in its last 28 games - general manager Alex Anthopoulos didn't equivocate.

"There's been talks of reliever or starter, if he's totally healthy, our plan is to bring him back as a starter," said Anthopoulos.