After three years of signing a seven-year $245 million contract extension, Washington Nationals hurler Stephen Strasburg is expected to retire at season’s end.
Strasburg started only eight more games for the Nationals after signing that massive contract extension, as a debilitating Thoracic outlet syndrome took him out of action for essentially three years.
It’s rare to see a pitcher of Strasburg’s caliber go from World Series MVP and NL strikeout leader in 2019 to now being forced to retire due to an injury he couldn’t recover from.
What Is Washington Nationals P Stephen Strasburg’s Legacy?
Strasburg was drafted No. 1 overall by the Washington Nationals in the 2009 MLB Draft out of San Diego State, playing for the (late) great Tony Gwynn Sr.
Strasburg quickly rose through the Minor Leagues, making his anticipated Major League debut on June 8, 2010, against the Pittsburgh Pirates. In his debut, Strasburg pitched seven innings, allowed two earned runs, and struck out 14 batters, breaking a team strikeout record previously set by John Patterson, who struck out 13 twice. He also became the first pitcher in history to strike out at least 11 batters without issuing any walks in his debut. But as quickly as Strasburg burst onto the scene, his career became defined by one thing: injuries.
That same season, Strasburg tore his Ulnar Collateral Ligament in a start against the Philadelphia Phillies, which required Tommy John Surgery and would cause Strasburg to miss the entire 2011 season.
After returning to the Nationals in the 2012 season, the team put together a plan: where they would shut Strasburg down after he reached 160 innings pitched. This was a controversial decision as the question that loomed throughout the season was, what if Washington was in a pennant race? They could not sit Strasburg if he’s shown to be healthy throughout the season. Not only did they sit him, but they sat him down in September. The consolation prize for Strasburg that season is that he won the Silver Slugger Award by hitting .277, one home run, seven RBIs, and three walks.
Limiting Strasburg’s innings that season was the best decision for both sides. Strasburg had trouble staying healthy throughout his career. Scouts believed it was due to Strasburg’s flawed pitching mechanics that contributed to his elbow and shoulder injuries early in his career.
The one defining moment of Strasburg’s career was his performance in the 2019 World Series against the Houston Astros. He went 2-0 with a 2.51 ERA and allowed four earned runs, 14 strikeouts, and 12 hits in two starts. For his performance, as mentioned above, Strasburg was named the 2019 World Series MVP and helped capture the first World Series for the Washington Nationals in franchise history.
Stephen Strasburg is a classic case of what could have been without injuries. He was one of the most dominant pitchers in baseball, and it hurts to see his career end like this, but will always be remembered for that special 2019 season.
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