Ross Stripling says he expects to start as Giants pitcher
Dec 13, 2022, 3:27 PM
TORONTO, ON - JULY 30: Ross Stripling #48 of the Toronto Blue Jays stands on the mound against the Detroit Tigers in the second inning during their MLB game at the Rogers Centre on July 30, 2022 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Mark Blinch/Getty Images)
(Photo by Mark Blinch/Getty Images)
In 2016, Ross Stripling made his MLB debut against the San Francisco Giants.
Pitching for the Los Angeles Dodgers, Stripling left the game with one out in the 8th inning. Through 7 1/3 innings, he had a no-hitter. The Dodgers would go on to lose the game, but it’s still a memory he holds dear.
“That was seven years ago now, which is crazy just how special that was,” Stripling said. “I think about it all the time. I still get asked about it all the time, you know ‘do you think you could have finished it’ or ‘are you still mad at Dave Roberts.’ I’m not, it was a perfect combination of some of the craziest things that ever happened and just a crazy game and an awesome debut and will probably go down as a top three or four memory for me in my career.”
Favorite picture of the game. Sad about the outcome but what a night. Thanks #dodgernation for all the love! pic.twitter.com/jRD6JfDaGm
— Ross Stripling (@RossStripling) April 9, 2016
Now, he’s a member of the San Francisco Giants. And there are plenty of connections along with that debut that pulled him to sign with San Francisco.
“I played with Joc [Pederson], I was Double-A roommates with Joc, Alex Wood was in my wedding and he’s one of my best friends in baseball, our wives are very close, [Gabe] Kapler was my minor league coordinator and obviously Farhan,” Stripling said. Farhan Zaidi, president of baseball operations for the Giants, was the Dodgers general manager when Stripling was on the team.
On Tuesday, Stripling and the Giants agreed to a two-year, $25 million deal. The contract includes an opt-out clause after the 2023 season. The terms of the deal are similar to recent Giants signee Sean Manaea.
The 33-year-old pitcher had a career year with the Toronto Blue Jays in 2022, starting 24 games and winning 10 with an ERA of 3.01. When asked about what his expectation going into the season is, he said he expects to start.
“Farhan told me that he sees me as a starter,” Stripling said. “And you know, that there’s as many innings available that I can handle.”
