Evan Stramanak. {Courtesy}
By: Matt Rothman
The Parkland Pokers have produced yet another star.
Perfect Game, the world’s largest baseball scouting service, awarded eighth grader Evan Stramanak Tournament Player of the Year for his incredible 2022 season. He becomes the first player in Pokers’ history to win this award.
Stramanak says winning this award showed him that all his work has paid off working with coaches Greg Raley, Rafi Caballero and Rob Brown.
“They didn’t just teach me about baseball, but they taught me how to be a good person and lead a good life by always holding myself accountable, to keep trying, to never give up,” said Stramanak. “Baseball is just as much about on the field as it is off the field.”
Stramanak is attending North Broward Prep and joining its JV and varsity baseball teams. He started his baseball career when he was three, hitting in the backyard with his dad. Despite not making the Pokers when he was eight, Stramanak continued to work hard.
He has played previously for ZT Elite Florida, TBT, BPB, Broward Blizzard, and Plantation Stars before starting with the Pokers in the Spring of 2022 and was invited to the National Showcase for Select Festival. This featured the top-36 players in an All-Star Game. With the Pokers, he was selected to seven All-Tournament Teams. In 297 at-bats, Stramanak hit .461 with six home runs and 88 RBIs. He also stole 42 bases and had 37 extra-base hits.
“Evan is an incredible baseball player but an even better person,” Coach Raley said. “It’s been a privilege to be able to have him play and be a part of the Parkland Pokers organization.”
Stramanak is currently the top-ranked catcher in the class of 2027 and the tenth in the country. He also ranks in the top ten in Florida and is ranked as one of the top 1,000 players in the county and says this recognition has made him want to work even harder.
“I am definitely trying to improve my pop time, and I am always working on my hitting,” Stramanak added. “A big part of being successful in baseball is the commitment to training and improving your skills.”
Evan Stramanak. {Courtesy}
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Author Profile
- Matt Rothman is a 2018 graduate from Florida Gulf Coast University receiving his bachelor’s degree in journalism and then graduated from the University of Florida as a graduate student. He also works for the Mohave Valley Daily News in Bullhead City, Arizona covering high school sports.
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