Stephen Strasburg Pitched Great When He Was Healthy; He Just Couldn't Stay Healthy

On Sunday, Stephen Strasburg officially announced his retirement from MLB. Strasburg, who spent his entire 13-year MLB career with the Washington Nationals, last pitched in 2022. 

Strasburg's reputation preceded him before he even threw his first big league pitch. The first overall pick of the 2009 MLB draft, when Strasburg made his MLB debut with the Nats on June 8, 2010, he struck out 14 Pittsburgh Pirates over 7 innings. His starts became "must see TV." But by the end of August 2010, after striking out 92 batters while walking only 17 in 68 innings pitched, Strasburg would require Tommy John surgery. He would be limited to 5 starts in 2011 and was controversially placed on an innings limit when he returned in 2012. Left off the post-season roster, the controversy did not die down when the Nats were eliminated by the St. Louis Cardinals in the NLDS after blowing a 6-0 lead in the decisive Game 5. 

Even after coming back from Tommy John surgery, Strasburg could not stay off the disabled list/injured list be it 2013, twice in 2015, twice in 2016, 2017 and twice in 2018. It is not surprising that Strasburg pitched more than 200 innings only twice in his career - 2014 and 2019. The latter year represented the pinnacle of his success leading the NL in wins (18) and innings pitched (209) while striking out a career high 251 batters against only 56 walks. Then came the 2019 post-season in which Strasburg went 5-0 with a 1.96 ERA striking out 47 batters and walking only four in 36.2 innings pitched earning the 2019 World Series MVP as D.C. got its first World Series parade in 95 years. 

In the off-season, Strasburg opted out of his contract and re-signed with the Nats on a 7-year, $245 million deal. Perhaps it was the euphoria of the World Series, but the contract would prove to be the ruin for both Strasburg and the Nats. From 2020 to 2022, Strasburg started 8 games going 1-4 with a 6.89 ERA as he surrendered 24 runs in only 31.1 innings pitched. He would be on the IL six more times during this period while the Nats descended into a second division team. 

What did Strasburg in was thoracic outlet syndrome. Last year, Strasburg had two neck muscles and a rib removed to alleviate the pain. That's hardly conducive to normal living much less playing baseball. As longtime Nats GM Mike Rizzo put it, "When he was on the mound, he was as good as any pitcher in baseball — ever. Unfortunately for him and for us, it wasn't as we wanted it to be."

In his 247 big league starts over 13 seasons with the Washington Nationals, Strasburg went 113-62 with a 3.24 ERA striking out 1723 batters against only 394 walks in 1470 innings pitched. 

Not bad. But a lot of people will say Stephen Strasburg could have done better including Stephen Strasburg himself.