Stephen Strasburg Reportedly Retires from MLB; Won 2019 World Series with Nationals

Washington Nationals ace starting pitcher Stephen Strasburg, who helped lead the 2019 team to its lone World Series title, has called it a career.

Per Andrew Golden of the Washington Post, the Nationals' transaction page listed Strasburg as retired on Saturday.

Strasburg will still be paid the $105 million still owed to him from his seven-year, $245 million contract, according to USA Today's Bob Nightengale.

Strasburg played 13 MLB seasons (2010-2012), making three All-Star games and winning the 2019 World Series MVP award after earning a pair of victories against the Houston Astros.

The former San Diego State star entered the bigs as one of the most hyped pitching prospects in recent memory.

The Nats selected him with the No. 1 pick in the 2009 MLB draft. One year later, Strasburg struck out 14 Pittsburgh Pirates in his major league debut.

Strasburg went 113-62 with a 3.24 ERA, 1.10 WHIP and a 10.5 K/9 rate over his career. The three-time All-Star also earned 2019 World Series MVP honors en route to helping lead the Nats to their lone championship in franchise history.

In addition, Strasburg struck out 200 or more batters on three occasions, including a National League-high 242 in 2014 and a career-high 251 in 2019. He also won a NL-high 18 games in 2019.

Unfortunately, Strasburg dealt with injuries throughout his career. He underwent Tommy John surgery that ended his rookie season early and kept him out for a year. Strasburg only made an average of 24 starts from 2015-2018 as dealt with an assortment of ailments.

Injuries ultimately ended Strasburg's career, as he was held to just eight starts from 2020-2022. In 2021, Strasburg underwent surgery to address neurogenic thoracic outlet syndrome.

He attempted to return in 2022 but made just one start and didn't look like his usual self, he allowing seven earned runs against the Miami Marlins.

On Feb. 15, 2023, manager Dave Martinez told reporters that Strasburg suffered a setback in his return from thoracic outlet syndrome. Jessica Camerato of MLB.com provided the details.

"Strasburg had been recovering from a stress reaction in his second and third ribs that is related to his thoracic outlet syndrome (TOS) surgery. He built up this offseason to throwing bullpens, and he felt good after his first session. After recently throwing a second session, however, he experienced a nerve issue that sidelined him again."

Sadly, Jesse Dougherty of the Washington Post reported in June 2023 that Strasburg was dealing with "severe nerve damage," leading to "increasing doubt" within the team regarding whether he would ever return.

Word emerged in August 2023 that Strasburg planned to retire, although that press conference was postponed.

Nats general manager Mike Rizzo told reporters in February that Strasburg was "not in baseball rehabilitation mode" and that he was "just trying to get his body back into shape where he could live his life."

Strasburg's retirement is seemingly now official, though, ending the great career of a pitcher who was one of the game's aces at his best.