The Last Word: Marcus Stroman

Since the day he was drafted by the Toronto Blue Jays in 2012, Marcus Stroman has enjoyed a quick climb up the ladder and has become a pillar of the Jays' pitching rotation. A fan favorite at Rogers Centre, the 26-year-old hurler dazzled the crowds recently when he was on the mound for one of two exhibition games at Olympic Stadium. We sat down with the Blue Jays' pitcher while he was in Montreal to talk about his team's upcoming season and, of course, a bit of hockey, too.

Was it your first time in Montreal? What do you think of our town?MARCUS STROMAN: I think I was here at the beginning of 2014. I haven't experienced much, to be honest. I feel like we're here so quick, and then we're out, so it's hard to really get to know the city. I haven't gotten a really good grasp of it, but by the fans that come out, and the appreciation we have here, it seems like an awesome city.
Have you heard good things about Montreal - the market in general, the city? Would that be the kind of place that if you ever have free time in the off-season, you'd like to come back?MS: Yeah, for sure. I hear nothing but great things about Montreal, and I'm kind of upset that I haven't had the opportunity to really enjoy it. Yeah, I would definitely visit back here in the off-season, just to try and really get an idea and learn about the culture. I would love to be around here when it's cold! I love the cold, I love wearing jackets, I love dressing in warm hoodies. I think that's something I would enjoy.
So you don't like Spring Training, in Florida?MS: (laughs) I live there. But I always like trying new things. I'm the type of dude who gets bored doing the same thing all the time, so I always like changing it up.

I know Montreal is not Toronto, but did it feel a little bit like home when you pitched at the Big O a few weeks ago - with all the support and everything?MS: Sure, 100% a home game. Nothing but love from the time I walked out here for warmups before the game. Just the fan appreciation, how into the game of baseball everyone is, how knowledgeable they are - who's out there, what's going on with the team. You love that. That's the kind of atmosphere you want to play in, that's the kind of atmosphere you want to have behind you when you're playing in your home ballpark.
Did you know that you also have a lot of fans in the Montreal Canadiens locker-room?MS: Yeah, I'm very aware. I know we have a lot of the hockey guys; I love meeting them all. It's hard, you're playing for an entire country and you forget that it's essentially just like me growing up and watching the Yankees. If the Yankees were to be supported by all of America . It's crazy to think. The appreciation we get from the hockey guys is unbelievable. Every city where I am, if they can come out, they always come out. It's a true love that they have for the entire Jays organization, because they've grown up with the Jays. I've gotten to know a couple of them that I'm pretty good buddies with - Connor McDavid, Tyler Seguin is one of my good buddies. Love those dudes, I'm all for the hockey scene.
One of them is Brendan Gallagher, to whom you gave a signed jersey last year, on which you signed: "To Gally, sorry I'm a Leafs fan". Did you write that because he tried converting you to Habs nation?MS: (laughs) I have to stay loyal to my home city, where I play. Toronto would be a little upset if I was out here rooting for [the Canadiens]. A lot of love for the entire city of Toronto, obviously the Leafs, Raptors, even [Toronto] FC. It's awesome how close-knit every team is there and how tight-knit group that they have in Toronto.

Had you ever met Gally before you signed the jersey?MS: No, I didn't. But once you get the introduction, you go and familiarize yourself with who it is, and you realize how awesome every individual that you meet is. Especially the hockey guys, they're like "bro's" . I end up hanging out and kicking it with a lot of them when I'm in various cities. They're awesome, I love it - it's that good sports connection that you have there.
Have you ever seen him play? We don't know if you knew, but you guys are pretty in your style of play, two fierce competitors who show a lot of emotions when you play.MS: I don't remember much [from when I saw him play]. But now that you mention [that we're similar], I will definitely tune into a game. It's tough - with baseball, we're at the stadium from noon or 1 p.m. to 11 p.m. or midnight. You miss a lot, but I'll definitely try and check in and see it. I love passionate guys, so I'm sure he'd be a favorite of mine.
Have you ever played hockey?MS: Yes, for BioSteel - recently. I just went on the ice, slapped a couple of shots around, not too much. I actually didn't have skates on, I was just out there in sneakers. There isn't not much ice skating where I'm from. (laughs)
What kind of player do you think you'd be if you ever played hockey?MS: I think I'd be a combination of Tyler Seguin and Connor McDavid. [Nazem] Kadri - he's a little dude, I like him. I think I'd just be fiery, the same type of competitor I am.

In hockey, the Toronto-Montreal rivalry is the oldest one in the NHL and one of the best in all sports. How cool would it be one day to see this rivalry expand its boundaries to the diamond?MS: Yeah, that'd be cool. We're the only Canadian team, which I love. I'm not going to lie, I love that we're the only Canadian team. I think it brings out more passion to our fan base and to our clubhouse. I think it would be some type of rivalry, just because it's another Canadian team. We'd be the only two Canadian teams, and, obviously, that would draw interest too.
Everybody in Canada knew how dominant a pitcher you were after seeing you pitch during your first years in MLB. Do you think that your MVP performances at the WBC showed to whole world how good Marcus Stroman really is?MS: I don't focus on that. That would be great, but I just truly focus on winning a championship. I work extremely hard. To be with the guys we have here, we have an unbelievable clubhouse, and to go out there and win a championship… there's no better feeling than winning a ring. I'm good with whatever happens after that. I try to just provide for everyone around me, work as hard as I can, provide for my family, my friends, and then everything takes care of itself. I truly believe that my work ethic is second to none. I always pride myself on that, I work extremely hard, and that's something I'll continue to always do. This game has a lot of highs, a lot of lows; there's a lot of failure in this game, so you have to be able to bounce back and battle those lows until you get on a high streak. I trust that the work that I've put in every single day is going to pay off.