Nationals’ Ace Stephen Strasburg has finally called it quits to his 12 year big league career, due to all the injuries he has sustained.
Strasburg was one of the best pitchers to wear a Nats jersey, and the best pitcher to ever be picked and grown by the Nats. In his first game in the big leagues and his first start, he managed to get 14 strikeouts.
For his career, he had a 3.24 ERA, a win/loss of 113-62, and he pitched in 247 games, all of which he started.
In the 1470 innings that he pitched, he managed to get 1723 strikeouts and a WHIP of 1.096.
Strasburg never won a Cy Young, and never came in second either for voting. However, he was chosen as the biggest reason the Nationals beat the Astros in the 2019 World Series, and was crowned the World Series MVP.
He started two games in Houston, and only gave up four runs in 14 innings of pitching. He also only gave up two home runs in his starts. Strasburg getting chosen for WS MVP was the right choice, as he solidified two wins in enemy territory.
Strasburg is only 35, and his contract is viable for six more years. However, his problems with injuries cause him to have to give up early.
While Nationals’ Ace Stephen Strasburg was exactly that, the ace for the Nats, he could never stay healthy.
His current problem is what put him over the edge. In July of 2021, Strasburg got a procedure for thoracic outlet syndrome. This would put him out for the season, and make a comeback the next year. However, Strasburg never truly made a come back.
Over the past three seasons, he has pitched in a little over 31 innings. Also, he got stress fractures in his ribs as side affects of his surgery. So, the multiple injuries from the surgery gave him the outlook that he will never truly be the same again, and so he decided to call it quits.
Strasburg played for over a decade and has multiple accolades, but being injury prone might hurt his chances for the Hall of Fame. However, his worth to the Nationals’ fanbase and franchise will always be invaluable.
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Featured Image courtesy of MLB.com
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