DUNEDIN, Fla. – One very noticeable thing about Marcus Stroman from his bullpen session Tuesday, other than the glove-popping stuff, is an unusual habit the Toronto Blue Jays prospect has does during his delivery.
The electric 22-year-old right-hander often blows bubbles while firing the baseball.
"I chew a ton of gum, man, I usually chew six pieces of Orbitz sweet mint, it’s a little superstition thing and I chew pretty aggressively," Stroman said. "I blow bubbles and it kind of relaxes me out there, that’s why I do it. It’s something I’ve been doing for a pretty good amount of years now.
"It takes my mind off things and allows me to relax, especially (through) my delivery. A lot of people can see me blowing bubbles mid-delivery, that’s just me being really relaxed."
Seeing Stroman unleash the ball with a bubble hanging from his lips is particularly odd, and would seem to be difficult to pull off. But like Michael Jordan and his hanging tongue, it just happens.
"It’s not like I’m forcing one out while I’m trying to pitch," he said. "I’m just trying to be as relaxed as possible."
