Former Bronco standout Brian Stroud, who spent two professional seasons in the Detroit Tigers organization after being drafted in 2011, returns to Western Michigan to complete his bachelors degree and will serve as a student assistant coach in 2014.
A right-handed pitcher, Stroud currently ranks third all-time at Western Michigan with 210 career strikeouts and fourth in career innings pitched with 255.2, spanning three complete seasons. His single-season effort of 101.1 innings pitched in 2011 ranks third and his 74 strikeouts that year ranks in the top 15.
Stroud made an immediate impact in the Brown & Gold, where he was a Louisville Slugger Freshman All-American, Mid-American Conference Freshman of the Year and First Team All-MAC selection his first season. Posting a perfect 6-0 record with one save in 2008, he became one of only seven pitchers in WMU history to have six or more wins with no losses.
Stroud struck out a team-high 68 batters in 77.0 innings pitched as a sophomore before his third year was hampered by injury.
Stroud bounced back as a redshirt junior in 2011, where he was named Second Team All-MAC after going 8-4 with a 3.20 ERA in 101.1 innings pitched. He recorded 74 strikeouts and issued only 25 walks, touting a .261 batting average against. Behind Stroud in the No. 1 starter role, the Broncos made a return to the MAC Tournament for the first time since his freshman season.
Stroud waved a final year of eligibility at Western Michigan after hearing his named called in the 31st round by the Detroit Tigers in the 2011 MLB Draft and went on to play two minor league seasons. As a rookie in 2011, he posted a 4.70 ERA over 69.0 innings, striking out 52 and walking only 15. In 2012, he had a
4.02 ERA over
47.0 innings with Class A Lakeland, helping the Flying Tigers to a Florida State League Championship.
