July 10, 2009
SAN DIEGO - San Diego State pitcher Stephen Strasburg has been nominated for an ESPY Award as one of five athletes vying for the honor of Best Male College Athlete. Begun by cable sports channel ESPN in 1993, the annual ESPY Awards allows sports fans worldwide to join in an online vote for their favorites in such 37 categories. Award winners are selected through online fan balloting conducted from amongst candidates selected by the ESPY Select Nominating Committee.
Strasburg, the first pick in last month' Major League Baseball Draft by the Washington Nationals, led the nation this past season in earned run average (1.32), strikeouts (195), hits allowed per nine innings (5.37) and strikeouts per nine innings (16.9) to compliment a 13-1 overall record. He is the recipient of the 2009 Dick Howser Trophy, presented to the nation's top collegiate player, as well as the College Baseball Foundation's National Pitcher of the Year award.
ESPY Award winners are determined by an on-line vote of sports fans that was conducted from June 25-July 11
Other nominees for the Best Male College Athlete include San Bradford (Oklahoma football), Matt Gilroy (Boston University ice hockey), Blake Griffin (Oklahoma basketball) and Tim Tebow (Florida football).
The 17th annual ESPY Awards ceremony will air on ESPN on Sunday July 19 at 9:00 p.m., hosted by actor Samuel L. Jackson.