SDSU's Strasburg one of the best ever

Utah coach Bill Kinneberg is well aware of the tall task his Utes face tonight at Lindquist Field in Ogden.

Stephen Strasburg, San Diego State's scheduled starter, is considered the best pitcher in college baseball. In fact, he may be one of the best to ever play the game.

The consensus projected No. 1 pick in next month's Major League Baseball draft is on a record pace, averaging a whopping 16.9 strikeouts per nine innings pitched. The right-hander is 11-0 with a 1.24 earned run average. In 87 1/3 innings this season, Strasburg has 164 strikeouts while giving up just 48 hits and 17 walks.

"Are we looking forward to seeing him? Probably not," Kinneberg said. "But it'll be a great challenge. It'll be a fun challenge to see Stephen again and watch him go at it."

Strasburg, a junior whose fastball has been clocked at 103 mph, has had mixed success against the Utes in his career. They are the only team to beat him twice. They're also the only squad to strike out 23 times in a game against the future multimillionaire.

Utah first baseman Austin Jones said the latter was simply a case of the nation's top pitcher being on his game.

"He knows how to pitch. He commands all of his pitches well. He's got legit stuff," Jones said. "You always look forward to that. It's more of a challenge. You have to prepare yourself and get yourself ready.

"I think it means more going up to the plate and really bearing down," he added. "You've really got to work together as a team to get a win off a guy like that."

Jones and his teammates speak from experience. The Utes eliminated Strasburg and the Aztecs from last year's Mountain West Conference tournament with a 1-0 victory. It was the last time Strasburg took a loss.

Utah also holds the distinction of handing the pitcher his first collegiate setback. As a freshman reliever, Strasburg was the losing pitcher in a 9-8 decision against the Utes.

Between the triumphs, though, was the 23-strikeout shortcoming.

"Strasburg's a great pitcher," said Utah leadoff hitter Corey Shimada. "He is the fastest guy we've ever faced."

Despite the varied results, Shimada acknowledged it's fun to face a pitcher as talented as Strasburg.

He's special. So special, in fact, that the pitcher may get a six-year contract in the neighborhood of $50 million from the Washington Nationals, who have the top pick on June 9.

"I can't even imagine money like that," Jones mused.

As the draft draws near, Strasburg is gaining superstar status. The growing attention has led to a "media diet." Dave Kuhn, who oversees baseball for SDSU's sports information office, says interview opportunities with Strasburg are now limited to the days he pitches.