Online camp signup is fast and easy!

Select the camp that most interests you and you'll be on your way in no time. Upon registration, you'll receive an instant confirmation and any additional information or instructions for the camp you've selected.

Strasburg Captures 2009 Golden Spikes Award

USA Baseball announced Tuesday the selection of San Diego State's Stephen Strasburg as the winner of the 2009 USA Baseball Golden Spikes Award. The award caps off a college season that saw the Aztec right-hander win numerous major awards as the top hurler in the NCAA Division I ranks. Strasburg becomes the second SDSU player to capture the Golden Spikes trophy after former Aztec first baseman Travis Lee received the award in 1996.

In partnership with Major League Baseball and Major League Baseball Advanced Media, the interactive media and Internet company of MLB, the award was presented live at MLB All-Star FanFest in St. Louis Tuesday afternoon.

"It's a tremendous honor," commented Strasburg. "You look at all the players that have been past Golden Spikes winners and to be considered in that caliber as a college player is just an amazing feeling for me. I remember three years ago, coming to San Diego State and wondering if I was even going to have a spot in the team. It's been a roller coaster ride for me the last three years for me, but it's all worth it."

Strasburg was selected as the National Player of the Year and as a Louisville Slugger first-team All-American by Collegiate Baseball. Strasburg led the nation in earned run average (1.32) and strikeouts (195) in 2009 , and the two-time Mountain West Conference (MWC) Pitcher of the Year finished league play with a conference-best 7-0 record (13-1 overall), an ERA of 1.50 and 111 strikeouts.

The junior standout was also recently honored with the Dick Howser Trophy as the college baseball player of the year. He received player of the year recognition from Baseball America as well, and he was also named the 2009 College Baseball Foundation Pitcher of the Year. In addition to the accolades, Strasburg was the No. 1 overall selection in the 2009 MLB First-Year Player Draft by the Washington Nationals.

This year marks the 32nd consecutive year that the USA Baseball Golden Spikes Award has been presented to the nation's premier amateur baseball player. Dustin Ackley (North Carolina), Mike Leake (Arizona State), Kent Matthes (Alabama), and A.J. Morris (Kansas State) were the other finalists for the award.

"Once again in 2009 we were faced with an incredibly strong collection of candidates for the Golden Spikes Award," said USA Baseball Executive Director/CEO Paul Seiler, who presented the award to Strasburg at All-Star FanFest. "Stephen Strasburg's performance this year stood out among the finalists, however, both statistically and in his leading of San Diego State to its first NCAA tournament appearance in nearly two decades. We are honored to recognize Stephen with the Golden Spikes Award, and we wish him and the other finalists success as professionals."

The selection of Strasburg marked the third time in four years that a pitcher has received the GSA (David Price of Vanderbilt, 2007; Tim Lincecum of Washington, 2006). He is also the second Aztec to win the award, following Travis Lee in 1996.

Since 1978, USA Baseball has honored the top amateur baseball player in the country with the GSA. Following the first ever presentation of the trophy to Bob Horner of Arizona State, the GSA has been awarded each year to the player who exhibits exceptional athletic ability and exemplary sportsmanship.

Washington Nationals Sign Strasburg for Record $15 Million

The Washington Nationals knew they needed to sign No. 1 overall draft pick Stephen Strasburg, and they did.

They needed him because of his pitching talent, his 100 mph fastballs and knee-buckling breaking balls. They needed him to ramp up the remaking of a last-place team on pace for a second consecutive 100-loss season. And they needed him to create a good vibe around a team that's suffered sagging attendance at a new stadium and all manner of bad publicity.

The easy part was drafting Strasburg in June. The hard part was getting him to agree to a contract by the deadline of midnight as Monday turned to Tuesday.

Washington got it done, agreeing with Strasburg on a record-breaking contract worth about $15 million over four years. The struggling team and the hard-throwing right-hander resolved everything at "11:58 and 43 seconds," Nationals president Stan Kasten said.

The deal is worth roughly 50 percent more than the previous highest guaranteed deal for a player in baseball's amateur draft, the $10.5 million pitcher Mark Prior(notes) got from the Chicago Cubs in 2001.

Strasburg gets a four-year contract covering 2009-12 that will pay him slightly more than $15.1 million. The exact amount depends on prorating his $400,000 salary for this year, based on the date the contract is official.

If no agreement had been reached by the deadline, the team would have relinquished its rights to Strasburg. A year ago, Washington failed to reach an agreement with its first-round selection, Missouri pitcher Aaron Crow.

At 6-foot-4, 220 pounds, and with a fastball that can reach 100 mph, Strasburg is projected to be precisely the sort of power starter the Nationals have lacked since moving from Montreal to the nation's capital before the 2005 season.

Strasburg went 13-1 for the Aztecs last season, leading Division I pitchers in ERA (1.35) and strikeouts (195 in 109 innings), and won the Golden Spikes award for the top U.S. amateur baseball player.

The expectation is that Strasburg will join third baseman Ryan Zimmerman(notes) as one of the faces of a rebuilding franchise heading to its fourth last-place NL East finish in five seasons.

The Nationals hope Strasburg can help boost interest in the team. Since opening their $600 million-plus ballpark for the 2008 season, the Nationals have had a hard time attracting fans: They are averaging about 23,100 spectators this season, worse than all but two NL clubs.

Whatever the PR benefit to the signing, the Nationals are most excited about Strasburg's ability to throw a baseball.

After all, highly touted rookie starter Jordan Zimmermann(notes) needs reconstructive elbow surgery and is expected to be sidelined for the next 12 to 18 months. Plus, the five pitchers currently holding spots in Washington's starting rotation are a combined 16-23 with a 4.52 ERA this season.