Come April 3 in Tampa Bay, Marcus Stroman will assume the mantle of both Toronto Blue Jays’ ace and opening day starter.

These two titles were guaranteed to Stroman after his miraculous return to action last season, followed by an impressive postseason performance considering his age and experience.

But it wasn’t performance alone that won Stroman his new roles. After all, an argument could be made that Marco Estrada should be this year's ace. He pitched better than Stroman during the 2015 playoffs and had a much bigger regular season. Moreover, Estrada’s second half was one of the best of any pitcher in baseball, let alone the AL East. Stroman’s second half was a meager four starts.

Even so, Stroman is the ace, which tells you a lot about what is expected from the man who holds the title. Or, perhaps it should tell you what the title says about the man.

Aces aren’t simply measured by their production. Of course, aces get into the conversation of being aces through their pitching dominance, but to attain true ace status a pitcher needs to be more than just consistently effective.

Baseball, for all its infatuation with sabermetrics, is still very much a psychological sport. Players become obsessed with roles and titles and spots in the batting order. They identify themselves with their functions, both specific (the ace) and broad (a big leaguer). The flow of game can shift based on the perceived significance of a player, his role, and the way he carries himself while doing it.

Perception is reality. That’s why baseball is full of colourful slogans such as, “Fake it until you make it,” and, “Act like you’ve been there before.” Well, Stroman is no fake, and from his debut in the big leagues, to his frenetic display of energy and intensity in the 2015 postseason, he has carried himself like he’s been in the big leagues for years.

This stuff matters. An ace is a leader, a champion, a hero. And all heroes have their origin stories.

In 2015, Stroman overcame an injury that would have excluded all but the most determined and hard-working of athletes when he tore his ACL in spring training. Instead of succumbing to the realities of the situation, Stroman rejected the accepted timeline of recovery and inserted his own. He declared his triumphant return months before he could even be considered well enough to pitch at any level, let alone the bigs. Not only that, he declared he’d be pitching with the team in the postseason, long before the postseason was even a possibility.

But Stroman didn’t just talk the talk — he walked it. He exhausted every avenue he had at his disposal to make a comeback, and then created few that didn’t exist. Stroman’s incorporation of modern technology into his training and rehab regimen, and the success borne from it, has effectively ensured that any other injured Blue Jay will experience a similar treatment.

Even so, it’s easy to write off a fast recovery to luck and the virtue of youth. What makes Stroman Stroman, and ultimately the team's’ ace, is his indomitable personality. His insatiable desire for success cannot and will not be humbled.

Even more importantly, it’s consistent. Good times or bad times, Stroman will not relent with his work ethic or positive attitude. It’s this consistency that steamrolls clubhouse politics and propels him to the role of staff ace. It’s ultimately why he is, without question, accepted as such by his teammates, fan base, and baseball pundits alike.

Even if Estrada were to out pitch Stroman this year, wire to wire, the team will still key off of Stroman’s incredible intensity. They will still see him as the rallying point to spearhead a counter attack.

I dare say that Stroman is more an ace than Roy Halladay.

Don’t get me wrong; Halladay is one of the single most incredible baseball players I’ve ever seen. His work ethic is unrivalled and his success unquestionable. When he took the mound every fifth day, the bullpen largely considered it to be a night off. However, his personality was not contagious. He was quiet, introverted, and his intensity was largely channelled into his gruelling workouts that bordered on masochism.

Halladay’s actions spoke louder than his words, and many players appreciated that about him. But he was always competing against himself more than he was the common enemy across the diamond.

Stroman may never have the career Halladay did, but he has an energy and charisma that Halladay lacked. If Stroman can back up his incredible intensity with results, he’ll become one of baseball’s iconic pitchers, the kind that more than teammates will rally behind. He has the potential to be one of baseball's great, positive influencers. Celebrated as much for his enthusiasm as his execution.

The next step on that path comes when he takes the ball on opening day in Tampa in his first start as his team’s ace.