Washington Nationals starting pitcher and 2019 World Series MVP Stephen Strasburg announced his retirement from baseball after 13 seasons with the franchise. He earned three All-Star selections during his career and is best known for leading the Nationals to victory in the 2019 World Series, with an impressive 5-0 record and 1.98 ERA in five postseason starts.
Despite being the No. 1 pick in the 2009 MLB Draft and entering the league as one of the best pitching prospects in history, Strasburg’s career was plagued by injuries. He underwent Tommy John surgery early in his career, carpal tunnel surgery in 2020, and has dealt with thoracic outlet syndrome since 2022. These injuries limited his playing time in recent seasons.
After signing a lucrative seven-year, $245 million contract extension in 2019, Strasburg has only pitched 4 ⅔ innings since June 2022. He is owed over $100 million by the Nationals for the remaining years of his contract, though a financial settlement was reportedly reached between the two parties this week.
Strasburg leaves behind an impressive legacy as one of the top pitchers in the game during his prime, with 113 wins, a 3.24 ERA, and an average of 10.5 strikeouts per nine innings. Despite the challenges he faced with injuries, his contributions to the Nationals and their World Series victory will be remembered by fans and teammates alike.
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