Nationals' Strasburg calls end to career
Washington Nationals pitcher Stephen Strasburg officially announced his retirement Sunday, ending the 2019 World Series MVP's injury-filled career.
Since leading Washington to its only World Series title five years ago, the 35-yearold Strasburg pitched just 31 1/3 innings over eight starts.
“I realized after repeated attempts to return to pitching, injuries no longer allow me to perform at a Major League level,” Strasburg said in a statement.
General manager Mike Rizzo selected Strasburg with the No. 1 overall pick of the 2009 amateur draft out of San Diego State.
Strasburg was 113-62 with a 3.24 ERA over 13 seasons and made three All-Star appearances. He led the National League with 18 victories in 2019 and then delivered a dominant postseason, going 5-0 with a 1.98 ERA over six appearances. That included wins in Games 2 and 6 of the World Series in Houston.
He signed a seven-year, $245 million contract in December 2019 but threw only 528 pitches in the majors since then. He had surgery for thoracic outlet syndrome, a nerve and blood disorder that led to the removal of a rib and two neck muscles.
Strasburg has not pitched since June 9, 2022, when he lasted 4 2/3 innings in his lone start before going back on the injured list. He did not report for spring training in 2023 or 2024.
Strasburg underwent Tommy John surgery and was lost for most of the 2011 season. The Nationals shut him down late in the 2012 season.
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