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Texas A&M Baseball: Six Aggies Among SEC Players on MLB Opening Day Rosters

By Matthew Bartlett

Oct 24, 2013; Boston, MA, USA; St. Louis Cardinals starting pitcher Michael Wacha throws a pitch against the Boston Red Sox in the first inning during game two of the MLB baseball World Series at Fenway Park. Mandatory Credit: Jared Wickerham/Pool Photo via USA TODAY Sports
Oct 24, 2013; Boston, MA, USA; St. Louis Cardinals starting pitcher Michael Wacha throws a pitch against the Boston Red Sox in the first inning during game two of the MLB baseball World Series at Fenway Park. Mandatory Credit: Jared Wickerham/Pool Photo via USA TODAY Sports /
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Texas A&M Baseball
Oct 15, 2016; Chicago, IL, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Ross  Stripling (68) throws against the Chicago Cubs during the seventh inning of game one of the 2016 NLCS playoff baseball series at Wrigley Field. Mandatory Credit: Jon Durr-USA TODAY Sports /

Ross Stripling, Los Angeles Dodgers

Stripling was the Saturday night guy, following Michael Wacha on the Aggies late 2000’s teams. He had an impressive collegiate career, highlighted by a no hitter against San Diego State in 2012.

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Unlike Wacha, Stripling wasn’t a first round pick. He fell all the way to the ninth round in 2011 where he was selected by the Colorado Rockies. Instead, he chose to come back to school and finish his senior year. Following that no-hitter and a 10-4 season, Stripling was drafted in the fifth round by the Dodgers in 2012.

After signing with the Dodgers, Stripling worked his way through their minor league system. At no stop did he post an ERA higher than 4.00. Instead, he piled up 233 strikeouts with just 61 walks.

Almost History

Then came his Major League debut. On April 8, 2016 Stripling took the mound at AT&T Park against the San Francisco Giants. What came next was nothing short of amazing. Stripling threw seven scoreless, no-hit inning against the Giants.

Unfortunately, rather than get the chance to finish his no-no bid, he was lifted in the eighth inning after walking Angel Pagan. The following batter blasted a home run off reliever Chris Hatcher. Not only did Stripling not get the no-hitter, the Dodgers lost the game.

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Stripling threw 100 innings in his first season in the big leagues. He hasn’t posted a no-hitter yet, but perhaps he will get another chance soon. It doesn’t hurt to study under the wings of Clayton Kershaw.

***Stats from Baseball Reference and The Baseball Cube***