Nationals starting pitcher and 2019 World Series MVP Stephen Strasburg retired Saturday. Strasburg was a three-time All-Star in 13 seasons with Washington. He is best known for winning the 2019 World Series with the Nationals, going 5-0 with a 1.98 ERA in five postseason appearances. Two of the victory were over the Houston Astros in the championship round.
Strasburg thanked fans for their support throughout his 13-year career in a statement Sunday. "As a kid, I only wanted to win the World Series. I realized my childhood dream in 2019 thanks to coaches, teammates, and medical personnel "Strasburg wrote. "Despite this being a personal goal of mine, I've come to realize how truly important and special that moment was for so many fans in the DMV."
Strasburg, the top pick in the 2009 MLB Draft, was probably the best pitcher in baseball history. He lived up to the hype, starting with a 14-strikeout debut against the Pittsburgh Pirates. He won 113 games with a 3.24 ERA and 10.5 strikeouts per nine innings.
Tommy John surgery midway through his rookie year, carpal tunnel surgery in 2020, and thoracic outlet syndrome since 2022 sidelined him. The latter happens when lower neck and upper chest nerves or blood vessels compress.
He was sidelined for a number of reasons, including Tommy John surgery in the middle of his first season, carpal tunnel syndrome surgery in 2020, and thoracic outlet syndrome since 2022.
Specifically, this condition occurs when nerves or blood arteries in the upper chest and lower neck become compressed. Since June 9, 2022, Strasburg had made only four and a half innings of pitching.
He signed a seven-year contract worth $245 million in December 2019, following the conclusion of the World Series. Due to the remaining years, the franchise owes him close to one hundred million dollars.
As of this week, according to multiple accounts, the Nationals and Strasburg reached a financial settlement.
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