The fire Marcus Stroman unleashes on the pitcher’s mound cannot be ignored. But the things that burn most strongly inside him exist far beyond the roar of the crowd. The thing that keeps him going is his family. One of those moments was when he famously paid off his mother Adlin Auffant’s mortgage. And posted the tearful video online with the hashtag “#FamilyFirst” — a gesture of appreciation for always being there for him. It’s this profound sense of appreciation for those closest to him that provides a glimpse of the man who is now bringing his unique pitching fire to the New York Yankees.

Making his first start of the 2025 season on Sunday, Stroman played a big role in the Yankees’ 12-3 iconic victory against the Milwaukee Brewers, completing an opening series sweep. The win came after he slogged through 4 2/3 innings in the iconic pinstripes, giving up three runs. Manager Aaron Boone praised Stroman’s play after the game. But also, he said he wants the veteran to go deeper into future starts. Yet assisting with the sweep felt like a positive start to Stroman’s contributions on the field this season.

Shortly after that successful team outing, Stroman returned his focus to his prime motivation – his family. Not game shots, but photos in which he and his partner, Shannon Nadj, and their young son appear in happier moments together, which he posted on Instagram. One photo of Kai Zen Stroman, his three-and-a-half-year-old son, stood out because of the plain, but deeply sentimental caption —“Grateful to be his father.”

This touching sentiment sums up the way Stroman views life and family. He’s even in the process of building a series of children’s books, beginning with “The Grip,” with hopes that his son Kai will learn the value of being true to himself and pursuing dreams.

Stroman often credits his own father, Earl, for shaping his values, “My father… I’m a big reflection of him… he has instilled a lot of beliefs that I still carry.” These deep family roots have made a lasting imprint on his approach to fatherhood.

Two sides of Stro: competitor and family man

And it is not just the family. Stroman’s emotional personality and commitment appear to resonate deeply with his teammates. His teammates have praised his integration, impact, and effectiveness. Anthony Rizzo admires the energy he brings, saying, “What he has done for our clubhouse, he’s definitely emerged as a leader.” The closer Clay Holmes enjoys seeing him as a player with the “confidence to be themselves”.  While the pitcher Nestor Cortes sees Stroman’s unique “flashy” style as a sign that “everybody’s accepted” on the team. His personality and approach to the game shows us a clubhouse culture that priorities on individuality and team spirit.

Stroman isn’t the only Yankee prioritizing personal connections during their early-season success. Fans were touched by J.C. Escarra’s emotional embrace with his wife before his MLB debut. Starting pitcher Carlos Rodón’s family took to the internet to celebrate his Opening Day win. Those glimpses into their shared time together reveal a tight-knit group, supportive of one another, valuing family and personal accomplishments.

Yet, while Stroman cherishes fatherhood and the bonds he builds, his competitive fire remains as intense as ever. He said candidly after his debut, “I need to be better”.  With ace Gerrit Cole on the shelf for now, Stroman’s role in trying to stabilize the rotation is more crucial.

Manager Aaron Boone relies on him to perform well on the biggest stages in baseball. As the season unfolds, fans will closely follow Stroman, embracing both the fiery competitor between the lines and the deeply grateful family man when he is away from the field. What’s next for Stroman?