WASHINGTON – Stephen Strasburg, the 2019 World Series MVP whose career was derailed by injuries, was officially placed on the retired list by Major League Baseball on Saturday.
This was an outcome that had been predicted for some time, but it was unclear when or how the word would emerge. In August, a person familiar with the situation told The Associated Press that Strasburg had decided not to attempt to resume pitching.
When I scanned the MLB trade list, I saw a simple entry: “RHP Stephen Strasburg retires.”
A Nationals spokesperson said the team would not comment until Strasburg himself comments.
Strasburg, 35, is a hard-throwing right-handed pitcher who was selected No. 1 overall in the 2009 amateur draft and briefly rose to stardom, leading the team to the Nationals’ first championship in history.
However, he has not pitched since June 9, 2022. His only start that season was for 4 2/3 innings before being placed on the disabled list.
He underwent surgery for thoracic outlet syndrome, a nerve and blood disorder that removed one rib and two neck muscles.
Strasburg has thrown just 528 pitches in the majors since signing a $245 million, seven-year contract in December 2019 and did not participate in spring training in 2023 or 2024.
Strasburg, who has a fastball that can reach over 100 miles per hour, was touted as a generational talent out of college, and after making his long-awaited debut on June 8, 2010, he became one of the faces of the Washington franchise. became.
He struck out 14 batters against the Pittsburgh Pirates, allowed four hits and two runs with no walks, winning a memorable game that became known as “Strasmus.”
After Strasburg underwent Tommy John surgery early in his career, the Nationals suspended him at the end of the 2012 season, even though he posted a 15-6 record with a 3.16 ERA. He was severely criticized for doing so. Without their ace, they lost to the St. Louis Cardinals in the National League District Series.
The long-term benefits of the shutdown didn’t show up until October 2019, when Strasburg went 5-0 with a 1.98 ERA in Washington’s championship game and started two games in the World Series against Houston. The Nationals won the game. 7.
Strasburg is 113-62 with a 3.24 ERA in 247 regular-season starts in the majors, all with Washington. He was a three-time National League All-Star, led the National League with 242 strikeouts in 2014, and led the National League with 209 innings pitched in 2019, his final full season. Ta.
