Strauss' roller-coaster ride lands in Montana

Former Bloomingdale High and FSU pitcher Ryan Strauss hasn't had much of a chance to catch his breath.

"It's been kind of like a roller coaster going from one place to the next,'' he said. "Usually you get a little break after the season. But it’s been one thing right after the next.''

In a good way.

In the span of a month, he got the win in a solid outing against Tulane in an NCAA Regional elimination game on June 1, he was picked in the ninth round by the Chicago White Sox in the June 6 Major League Baseball draft, he threw a near-flawless six innings of relief (one hit and no runs) in a win against Wichita State in the Super Regional finale that sent the Seminoles to Omaha and the College World Series. Just last Saturday, he landed in Great Falls, Mont., to join the White Sox rookie league team.

"I haven't had time to sit back and think about the season or stuff like that,'' he said. "It hasn't even sunk in yet that I'm playing pro ball.''

He's still waiting to take the mound (as a reliever) for the first time, but he's ready. He knows that although batters will be swinging wood rather than metal bats, they're likely to be stronger than college hitters, certainly 1-9 in the lineup. Still, Strauss (10-1, 4.31 ERA as a senior) said his strong finish in pressure games "transfers'' to this new level.

"Confidence is the key,'' he said. "It takes confidence to go in there.'' 

-- BRIAN LANDMAN