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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.
Since leading Washington to its only World Series victory five years ago, the 35-year-old Strasburg has pitched just 31 1/3 innings in eight starts.
“After many attempts to return to pitching, I realized that due to injury, I would no longer be able to perform at the major league level,” Strasburg said in a statement. His retirement was posted on Major League Baseball’s trade page on Saturday.
General manager Mike Rizzo, who selected Strasburg with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2009 amateur draft, said the right-hander is on “the Nationals’ Mount Rushmore.”
“When he got on the mound, he was better than any pitcher in baseball — ever,” Rizzo said Sunday before the Nationals-Phillies game. “Unfortunately for him and for us, it wasn’t what we wanted.”
Strasburg went 113-62 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 contract worth $245 million in December 2019, but has since thrown just 528 pitches in 31 1/3 innings in the majors, going 1-4 with a 6.89 ERA. 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.
“You just feel bad for a guy like that who was a great player for a long time,” said Washington pitcher Patrick Corbin, who signed with the Nationals before the 2019 season to join a rotation that includes Strasburg. “It’s just unfortunate that there were injuries and some setbacks. He tried everything to come back and be a part of this team and it just didn’t work out.”
Washington began planning for a retirement press conference last August, but did not hold one as Strasburg and the Nationals discussed restructuring his contract. In this contract, he was to receive $35 million per year, with $11,428,571 per year deferred at his 1% interest rate. The deferred payment was paid in equal installments of $26,666,667 on July 1, 2027, 2028, and 2029, with interest of $3,999,974 paid on December 31, 2029.
When Washington drafted Strasburg, he was considered a cornerstone of the franchise. 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 and pitched a National League-high 209 innings in 2019. That was until October of that year, when he had 47 strikeouts in 36 1/3 innings.
“He was a great horse on the mound,” Washington coach Dave Martinez said. “He didn’t feel good every day, but he picked up the ball every five days and gave it his all no matter what.”
Nationals owner Mark Lerner released a statement congratulating Strasburg on his career.
“It has been an honor to watch him grow as a player and a person throughout his illustrious career,” Lerner said. “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
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Credit: AP
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