Suffolk County legend returns back to the Yankees

By: Matthew

By Matthew Marmo

Patchogue-Medford High School's former baseball phenom Marcus Stroman came back to the New York Yankees spring training last week, generating optimism and skepticism among Suffolk County fans that have rooted for Marcus throughout his entire journey. Signing a two-year contract with the Yankees last winter, Stroman's return has everyone talking about his spot on the roster for the season.

Stroman, 33, comes with a Yankees pitching rotation that has fallen short of the world series  in 2024. His journey here has been a great story for all shorter athletes, especially pitchers. Being five foot eight, Stroman has his own brand called “HDMH” which stands for Height Doesn't Measure Heart. This created a message that no matter what your physical attributes are, if you have heart and perseverance you can go as far as possible. From dominating high school fields on Long Island to pitching for Duke University, Stroman has built a career from strength and grit. Having traveled with the Toronto Blue Jays, New York Mets, and Chicago Cubs before, he is now one of the sport's most recognizable and popular names and especially for the fans of his hometown.

While the majority of Suffolk County fans are celebrating Stroman's success, news of recent trades has brought disappointment. While he was meant to be a signing to be a main part of the rotation, The Yankees are asking him to join the bullpen. Word has also spread that the team is considering trading him prior to Opening Day. For fans locally, the threat of losing a hometown star so soon  in his Yankee career can be discouraging.

But Stroman remains on message. At his first spring training bullpen session, his fastball had some zip to it, and his slider was crisp, a welcome sight for a Yankees pitching staff hungry for consistency. He reiterated his commitment to putting the club in contention for a championship, stating that his return to New York is something greater than playing baseball; it's about being a representative of where he comes from.

Stroman's beginnings are firmly rooted in Suffolk County. Most Long Island players have ambitions to play big league baseball, but few have done it as well as he has. His achievement serves as a motivation to children throughout the region that with the talent and determination to stay with it, local commodities can excel at the top levels in baseball.

As the regular season approaches, Stroman's future is a story to monitor. Whether or not he continues in pinstripes or moves to a different team, his tale keeps resonating among people from his hometown. The fans from Suffolk County will still be cheering one of their own to shine bright under the stadium lights of the Bronx for now.