Matthew Scott Strahm Bio
Matthew Scott Strahm is an American professional baseball pitcher for the Kansas City Royals of Major League Baseball (MLB). He has previously played in MLB for the San Diego Padres, Boston Red Sox, and Philadelphia Phillies. As of the 2026 MLB season, Strahm is the only active MLB player born in North Dakota. He began his professional career after being drafted by the Royals in 2012 and has established himself as a versatile pitcher capable of both starting and relieving roles throughout his major league tenure.
Early Life and Background
Strahm was born on November 12, 1991, in North Dakota, United States. He attended West Fargo High School in West Fargo, North Dakota, where he played for the school’s baseball team as a pitcher. Despite his future success in professional baseball, Strahm considered himself to be only the third-best pitcher on his high school team. His path to collegiate baseball took an unexpected route when he attended a tryout at the University of Kansas and caught the attention of a coach from Neosho County Community College.
In the summer of 2011, Strahm played for the Rochester Honkers of the Northwoods League, a summer collegiate baseball league known for developing talented players. In 2012, he pitched for Neosho County Community College, recording a remarkable 9-3 win-loss record with a 1.48 earned run average (ERA). His performance helped guide the Neosho County Panthers to the 2012 National Junior College Athletic Association World Series. After two seasons with Neosho County, Strahm committed to transfer to the University of Nebraska–Lincoln before his professional career would take a different direction.
Path to Professional Baseball
The Kansas City Royals selected Strahm in the 21st round of the 2012 MLB draft, with the 643rd overall selection. He signed with the Royals, receiving a $100,000 signing bonus, choosing professional baseball over his planned transfer to Nebraska. Strahm made his professional debut with the Idaho Falls Chukars of the Rookie-level Pioneer League.
During the 2013 season, Strahm required Tommy John surgery to repair damage to the ulnar collateral ligament in his left elbow. This injury caused him to miss most of the 2014 season, as he threw only 19 and one-third innings for Idaho Falls. The following season in 2015, Strahm pitched for both the Lexington Legends of the Class A South Atlantic League and the Wilmington Blue Rocks of the Class A-Advanced Carolina League. He earned SAL All-Star honors that year, recording 121 strikeouts in 94 innings pitched between the two teams. The Royals added him to their 40-man roster after the 2015 season to protect him from the Rule 5 draft.
Matthew Scott Strahm Career
Early Career with Kansas City Royals (2016–2017)
Strahm began the 2016 season with the Northwest Arkansas Naturals of the Class AA Texas League. He posted impressive numbers through the end of July, recording a 3.43 ERA and 107 strikeouts in 102 and one-third innings pitched. When Wade Davis went on the disabled list, the Royals promoted Strahm to the major leagues on July 31, 2016. Though most of his minor league experience was as a starting pitcher, the Royals deployed Strahm as a relief pitcher for the remainder of the 2016 season to manage his inning count from the previous season.
At the end of 2016, the Royals indicated that Strahm would compete for a spot in their starting rotation during spring training in 2017. However, after acquiring Nate Karns, Travis Wood, and Jason Hammel, Ned Yost, the Royals’ manager, announced at the start of spring training that Strahm would work as a reliever in 2017. He made 24 appearances, including three starts for the Royals, before being shut down for the season with a torn patellar tendon in his left knee. Overall during parts of two seasons with the Royals, Strahm compiled a 4-7 record in 45 games with a 3.81 ERA while striking out 67 batters in 56 and two-thirds innings.
San Diego Padres Era (2018–2021)
On July 24, 2017, the Royals traded Strahm, along with Travis Wood and Esteury Ruiz, to the San Diego Padres in exchange for Trevor Cahill, Ryan Buchter, and Brandon Maurer. In 2018 with the Padres, Strahm posted an outstanding 2.05 ERA in 41 games, including five starts. He recorded 69 strikeouts in 61 and one-third innings pitched.
The following season in 2019, Strahm began the year as a starter and made 16 starts before being moved to the bullpen. Overall, he finished with a record of 6-11 in 46 games, striking out 118 batters in 114 and two-thirds innings. In 2020, he pitched mainly out of the bullpen, appearing in 19 games in 20 and two-thirds innings. On April 17, 2021, Strahm was placed on the 60-day injured list as he continued to recover from patellar tendon surgery on his right knee that he underwent in October 2020. The Padres non-tendered him on November 30, 2021, making him a free agent. During his four seasons with the Padres, Strahm compiled a 9-17 record in 112 games with a 3.81 ERA and 206 strikeouts in 203 and one-third innings.
Boston Red Sox (2022)
On March 15, 2022, Strahm signed a one-year contract with the Boston Red Sox. He began the season as a member of Boston’s bullpen. Strahm was placed on the COVID-related list on May 30 and reactivated on June 1. He was later placed on the injured list on July 15 due to a left wrist contusion suffered in a game against the Tampa Bay Rays on July 12. He rejoined the team on August 19. In 50 relief appearances with Boston during 2022, Strahm posted a 4-4 record with four saves and a 3.83 ERA while striking out 52 batters in 44 and two-thirds innings. He elected to become a free agent in early November 2022.
Philadelphia Phillies (2023–2025)
On December 9, 2022, Strahm signed a two-year contract worth $15 million with the Philadelphia Phillies. On May 6, 2023, Strahm was ejected from a game and fined for not leaving the field after the conclusion of the national anthem despite an umpire’s warning. The incident involved what was termed an “anthem standoff” with Boston Red Sox pitcher Kutter Crawford, intended to prevent delays amid the introduction of the pitch clock. After the game, Strahm told reporters that the standoff was “embarrassing” and “probably not the wisest decision I have made in my big-league career.” In 56 games for the Phillies in 2023, he went 9-5 with a 3.29 ERA and 108 strikeouts across 87 and two-thirds innings pitched.
On March 24, 2024, Strahm and the Phillies agreed to a one-year contract extension that includes a vesting option for the 2026 season. He delivered an outstanding 2024 season, making 66 appearances out of the bullpen and compiling a 6-2 record with a 1.87 ERA, 79 strikeouts, and three saves across 62 and two-thirds innings pitched. His strong performance earned him All-Star selection, the first such honor of his career. In 2025, Strahm made 66 relief appearances for the Phillies, registering a 2-3 record and 2.74 ERA with 70 strikeouts and six saves across 62 and one-third innings pitched.
Kansas City Royals Return (2026–Present)
On December 19, 2025, Strahm was traded back to the Kansas City Royals in exchange for pitcher Jonathan Bowlan, marking his return to the organization that originally signed him in 2012. This reunion brought Strahm full circle with the franchise where he made his major league debut. Through June 28, 2026, Strahm has compiled career statistics of a 37-39 win-loss record, a 3.47 ERA, and 602 strikeouts across his MLB career.
Pitching Style and Strengths
Throughout his career, Strahm has demonstrated versatility as both a starter and reliever. He has shown the ability to work effectively in high-leverage situations out of the bullpen while also possessing the stamina and pitch repertoire to serve as a starting pitcher. His ability to miss bats, evidenced by his career strikeout totals, has been a consistent strength throughout his major league career.
Matthew Scott Strahm Career Wins
Across his major league career spanning portions of ten seasons with four different franchises, Strahm has accumulated a win-loss record of 37-39 with 602 strikeouts and a 3.47 ERA through June 28, 2026. His career has been marked by adaptability and resilience, overcoming injuries to remain an effective major league pitcher.
Major League Highlights
Strahm’s most successful season came in 2024 with the Philadelphia Phillies, where he earned his first All-Star selection. He posted a 6-2 record with a stellar 1.87 ERA and three saves in 62 and two-thirds innings pitched. His 2023 season was also notable, as he went 9-5 with a 3.29 ERA and 108 strikeouts in 56 appearances. His time with the San Diego Padres included a breakout 2018 campaign where he posted a 2.05 ERA in 41 games.
Matthew Scott Strahm Family
Family Background
Strahm grew up a Minnesota Twins fan. He has a brother named Ben, who played college baseball at Cowley Community College and was signed by the San Francisco Giants in 2018. He also has a sister named Britta.
Personal Life
Strahm married his wife, Megan, in September 2015 in Chanute, Kansas. Megan also attended Neosho County Community College, where she and Strahm first met. Outside of baseball, Strahm maintains a YouTube channel where he shares content depicting his baseball life and features opening packs of baseball cards.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 season represented another solid year for Strahm in a setup and closing role for the Philadelphia Phillies. He made 66 relief appearances, registering a 2-3 record and a 2.74 ERA with 70 strikeouts and six saves across 62 and one-third innings pitched. His ability to work multiple innings and handle high-leverage situations made him a valuable piece in the Phillies’ bullpen.
Strahm continued to demonstrate his durability and consistency throughout the season, appearing in over 60 games for the third consecutive season with Philadelphia. His strikeout-to-innings ratio remained strong, and he recorded six saves as he took on increased closing responsibilities at various points during the campaign. The mutual respect between Strahm and the organization was evident when they agreed to a contract extension in March 2024 that included a vesting option for 2026.