New York Mets right-hander Marcus Stroman is paying it forward.
Stroman offered on Monday to help any Tampa-based youth baseball teams as an assistant pitching coach. Joel Salinas reached out the next day with a photo of the team he coaches: the Tampa Heat U-9 squad.
The 29-year-old pitcher showed up to practice Wednesday afternoon, according to Mari Faiello of the Tampa Bay Times.
Stroman went through drills and offered tips to the young pitchers throughout the two-and-a-half-hour practice. He also shared his own experiences, telling the kids that adversity can be overcome.
"I'm 5-foot-7. I'm the smallest big-league pitcher today," Stroman said. "I'm clearly the smallest starter, the smallest big-league pitcher out there. But I'll go out there and pitch 200-plus innings, and I'll do it year after year after year."
The All-Star hurler also got a chance to show off his speed when he raced one of the players around the basepaths.
Surprised myself with the burst at the end. My lil’ man was talking about how he was going to dust me. I had to let him know! Lol 😂 @9uHeat pic.twitter.com/OHGlHGPCah
— Marcus Stroman (@STR0) June 18, 2020
Stroman added that he wants to help grow the game for the next generation through sessions like this one.
"It's awesome and it's refreshing," Stroman said. "I love this. Any time I can get around young kids that are truly the next generation of athletes and just being around to talk and answer their questions and to show them that I was in their position one day and it's possible."
Thank you sir! pic.twitter.com/tesrRssPIG
— Joel (@Ninja_813) June 18, 2020
