If there were a king of MLB controversies, Marcus Stroman would wear the crown. He brands himself as an underdog, but that’s far from the truth. At Duke, he dominated the mound, setting the school’s career strikeout record. A top draft pick, he was on the fast track to the big leagues—until the controversies began. First up? A 50-game suspension for testing positive for a banned substance.

Stroman made a comeback in 2013 and eventually made his debut in the big league in 2014. There weren’t many issues in his early years, and he seemed like a fun, young, up-and-coming player. In 2016, Stroman got the honor of the opening day starter, where he pitched into the ninth inning and got the win. The game did have a little moment of feistiness after getting Logan Morrison to fly out. The 33-year-old had said something to himself that Morrison felt disrespected by it.

After that incident, he had an awesome 2017 season where the American baseball pitcher threw over 200 innings for the second year in a row. Stroman did the absolute most in that year. In a game against the White Sox late that season, where he got the win, an incident similar to Morrison happened. Except this time, it was Tim Anderson. Of course, the two most perfect guys in the field will have an issue with one another! 

In a 24-minute video by iTalk Studies, the narrator rants about Marcus Stroman. The title of the video? ‘The Most TOXIC Teammate in Baseball Keeps Getting Worse’ The narrator lays out the whole incident with Anderson. He says that after striking Anderson out, Stroman kind of gave him a look. Yes, just a look. But Anderson also wasn’t backing down. He too kept looking at Stroman, which led to the obvious solution. Yelling. Just like the Morrison situation, the two players did not throw hands but just words at each other.

After another little incident, Alex Cora even went to the umpire to complain about Marcus Stroman. Cora said afterward that it’s the same thing with Stroman every day. According to Cora, Stroman competed in a certain way, and people around him did not like it. The Red Sox manager had also added that it seemed like whenever a team came in, someone screamed at Stroman. Cora then basically called Stroman out for having issues with everyone everywhere he goes. 

Fans react to Marcus Stroman being called a toxic player  

The quotes from Alex Cora and others about Marcus Stroman suggest some key perceptions and criticisms about his personality and behavior within the MLB. “Stro is MLB Kanye.” This comparison likens Stroman to Kanye West, a figure often associated with controversial, outspoken behavior and a tendency to make bold, unapologetic statements. Stroman has built a reputation for being confident, vocal, and sometimes confrontational, both on and off the field.  

“He took the Kaepernick pill.” This seems to suggest that Stroman, like Colin Kaepernick, became a figure who chose to be outspoken on issues of social justice, race, and personal identity. Stroman has been vocal about issues and has faced backlash at times for his views. By referencing Kaepernick, the comment implies that Stroman’s outspokenness, much like Kaepernick’s protests, invites both admiration and resentment.  

Another comment suggests that while Stroman has had notable success, his reputation and self-image don’t align with the perception others have of his actual standing in the league. “Average player that expects to be treated like a star. He reminds me a lot of Jimmy Butler. Always ‘the underdog’, always ‘disrespected’, etc etc.” one user wrote. The comparison here seems to imply that Stroman, while undeniably talented, may sometimes project an image of being wronged or overlooked, even if his performance and career trajectory don’t always support that view.  

“The Kanye West of baseball” This is a reiteration of the earlier comment about Stroman’s controversial, attention-grabbing style. Similar to Kanye, Stroman’s behavior both on and off the field often keeps him in the spotlight, whether it’s his confrontational style of pitching or his public rants about perceived slights (like the arbitration case).  

This next one is a sentiment from critics who have grown tired of Stroman’s antics. “Can we just stop giving this dude attention?” Whether it’s his on-field feuds, his public outbursts, or his tendency to take things personally, some people just want less drama surrounding him. The comment implies that Stroman’s controversies may have worn thin on some fans, players, and media members who would rather focus on the game than on his personal narratives or social media posts.  

In sum, these comments underscore a perception of Marcus Stroman as someone who is not afraid to be vocal and controversial but that his behavior often leads to mixed reactions. He is seen as someone who thrives on being the “underdog” or feeling disrespected, even though his success in the MLB doesn’t necessarily warrant such a mindset. Stroman sometimes seems to embrace the spotlight of controversy rather than shy away from it, and this has created a complicated, divisive image for him in the MLB world.