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WASHINGTON (AP) — Washington Nationals pitcher Stephen Strasburg announced his retirement Sunday, ending an injury-filled career for the 2019 World Series MVP.
Strasburg’s retirement was posted on Major League Baseball’s trade page on Saturday. Since leading Washington to its only World Series victory five years ago, Strasburg has pitched just 31 1/3 innings in eight starts.
“After numerous attempts to return to pitching, I realized that I could no longer perform at the major league level due to injury,” Strasburg said in a statement.
Nationals owner Mark Lerner and general manager Mike Rizzo released a statement congratulating Strasburg on his career.
“His impact on our baseball club is undeniable,” Rizzo said. “He will go down as one of the greatest players in Washington Nationals history.”
Strasburg, 35, had a 113-62 record with a 3.24 ERA in 13 seasons and was a three-time All-Star. He led the National League with 18 wins in 2019 and then had a dominant postseason record with a 5-0 record and 1.98 ERA in six games. That includes wins in Games 2 and 6 of the World Series in Houston.
He signed a seven-year, $245 million contract in December 2019, but has thrown just 528 pitches in the majors since then. He underwent surgery for thoracic outlet syndrome, a nerve and blood disorder, which resulted in the removal of one rib and two muscles in his neck.
Strasburg hasn’t pitched since June 9, 2022, when he returned to the disabled list after pitching 4 2/3 innings in his first start of the season. He did not participate in spring training in 2023 or 2024.
Under the terms of the agreement, Strasburg will receive $35 million annually, with $11,428,571 deferred annually at 1% interest. This deferred payment will be paid in equal installments of $26,666,667 on July 1, 2027, 2028, and 2029, with interest of $3,999,974 paid on December 21, 2029.
Strasburg was considered a cornerstone of the franchise when Washington selected him with the first overall pick in the 2009 amateur draft. He arrived in the majors almost exactly one year later, and had 14 strikeouts in his debut against Pittsburgh on June 8, 2010, a performance that was quickly dubbed “Strasmus.”
Within three months, Strasburg underwent Tommy John surgery and missed most of the 2011 season. The Nationals fired him late in the 2012 season, and criticism of the team increased even more when they lost to St. Louis in the National League District Series.
Strasburg pitched 150 innings five times in the regular season, including a career-high 209 innings in 2019. That was until October of that year, when he had 47 strikeouts in 36 1/3 innings.
“It has been an honor to watch him grow as a player and a person throughout his illustrious career,” Lerner said in a statement. “He gave us so many memories that will stay with us forever.”
In a statement, Strasburg thanked his coaches, teammates and medical staff and acknowledged the “unwavering support” of his fans throughout his career.
“I always wish I had pitched more games, but I take comfort in knowing I left it all for the only team I know,” Strasburg wrote. “My family and I are truly fortunate and blessed to experience this baseball journey at Capitol Hill.”
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AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb
Credit: AP
Credit: AP
Credit: AP
Credit: AP
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