Dec. 12, 2009
SAN DIEGO - Washington National and former San Diego State Aztec pitcher Stephen Strasburg
On the $140,000 donation he made to San Diego State baseball:
"It was definitely something that I wanted to do. I'm thankful to be able to give back to the program in a way like this. Every single year for the three years that I was here there was always the grass around the field that we just couldn't keep green. It's going to look really good out there; I'm excited to see it."
On the possibility of future donations or charity work:
"I think it's something I want to stay committed with as my career moves on. I talked to my family and when I started to realize the position I was going to be in, the number one thing was to give back to the university. That's what I was focusing on this fall; getting this all figured out. Now for me, I'm going to get ready for the next season."
On his connection with San Diego State University:
"It's gone back a lot farther than my freshman year. Both mom and dad went to San Diego State and I grew up watching San Diego State baseball; from Travis Lee, to Tony Gwynn, Jr., to Royce Ring, even watching Bruce Billings right before I came in here at State. It's something I have enjoyed my entire life, and I feel like I have always been an Aztec, even before I started to wear their colors."
Head baseball coach Tony Gwynn
On what the donation says about Stephen Strasburg:
"Most guys in his situation want to establish themselves first before they jump into that world. I've been saying it for three years; he's a great baseball player, but he's an even better person. The fact that he stepped up to the plate and decided to help the program, obviously we are thrilled and we are going to try to use it and make the field look good."