Dickey praises Stroman for finishing degree, says being well-rounded is a benefit

TORONTO – Veteran pitcher R.A. Dickey says young Blue Jays right-hander Marcus Stroman is a role model for finishing his degree at Duke during his injury rehab.

“I think it’s fantastic,” Dickey said Monday prior to Game 3 of the American League Championship Series against the Kansas City Royals. “You know, I constantly feel like I’m fighting against a stereotype a lot, that Major League Baseball players — athletes in general — can’t be educated, can’t be well-read, can’t have thoughtful conversations. The dumb jock syndrome is what I call it.

“But Marcus having got his degree from Duke is a great example of a person that’s an athlete, professionally, that this is his life, but it’s not all his life. He has other desires outside of baseball.

And I think that’s great for the game. It’s great to exemplify that for kids coming up. I think it’s a great thing to do to show kids in general that it’s OK to have other interests outside the game. I think it can be really toxic, this game can be really toxic at times. And so being well-rounded is always a benefit, I think.”

Dickey, who has a degree in English literature from the University of Tennessee, should know. He is an author as well as a pitcher, having written his autobiography as well as a children’s book.

Stroman, 24, finished his degree while rehabbing from knee surgery.