Stephen Strasbourg announces his retirement at 35

WASHINGTON — Washington Nationals pitcher Stephen Strasburg 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-year-old from Strasbourg has pitched just 31 1/3 innings in eight starts.

“I realized that after repeated attempts to return to pitching, injuries no longer allowed me to perform at the major league level,” Strasburg said in a statement. His retirement was announced Saturday on the Major League Baseball transactions page.

General manager Mike Rizzo, who selected Strasburg with the first pick in the 2009 amateur draft, said the right-hander was on “the Mount Rushmore of the Nationals.”

“When he was on the mound, he was as good as any pitcher in baseball — ever,” Rizzo said Sunday before the Nationals played the Phillies. “Unfortunately for him and for us, it wasn’t the way we wanted.”

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 wins in 2019, then had a dominant postseason, going 5-0 with a 1.98 ERA in six appearances. This included victories in Games 2 and 6 of the World Series in Houston.

He signed a seven-year, $245 million contract in December 2019, but threw just 528 pitches in 31 1/3 innings in the majors afterward, going 1–4 with a 6 ERA, 89. He underwent surgery for thoracic outlet syndrome, a nerve and blood disorder that resulted in the removal of a rib and two neck muscles.

Strasburg hasn’t pitched since June 9, 2022, when he lasted 4 2/3 innings in his only start of the season before returning to the injured list. He did not report to spring training in 2023 or 2024.

“You just feel for someone like that who was such a good player for a long time,” said Washington pitcher Patrick Corbin, who signed with the Nationals before the 2019 season in part to join a rotation that included Strasbourg. “It’s just a shame with the injuries and some setbacks. He tried everything to come back and be a part of this team and things just didn’t work out.

Washington began planning a retirement news conference last August, but didn’t call for one as Strasburg and the Nationals discussed restructuring his contract. The agreement called for him to receive $35 million per year, with $11,428,571 per year deferred at 1% interest. The deferred money was payable in equal installments of $26,666,667 on July 1 in 2027, 2028 and 2029, with an interest payment of $3,999,974 on December 31, 2029.

Strasburg was considered a franchise cornerstone when Washington drafted him. He arrived in the majors almost exactly a year later, when he struck out 14 in his debut against Pittsburgh on June 8, 2010, in a performance that was quickly nicknamed “Rhinestones.”

Within three months, Strasburg underwent Tommy John surgery and was lost for most of the 2011 season. The Nationals shut him down late in the 2012 season, and criticism of the team were amplified when it lost to St. Louis in the NL Division Series.

Strasburg threw 150 innings in the regular season five times, including an NL-high 209 in 2019. That was before striking out 47 in 36 1/3 innings in October.

“He was a horse on the mound,” Washington manager Dave Martinez said. “Not every day he felt good, but every five days he took the ball and gave you everything he had, no matter what.”

Nationals owner Mark Lerner released a statement congratulating Strasburg on his career.

“It has been a privilege to watch him grow as a player and person throughout his illustrious career,” Lerner said. “He gave us so many memories that will stay in our hearts forever.”

In his statement, Strasburg thanked coaches, teammates and medical staff, and he acknowledged the “unwavering support” of fans throughout his career.

“While I always wish there were more games to pitch, I find comfort in knowing that I left it all for the only team I have known,” Strasburg wrote. “My family and I are truly fortunate and blessed to have experienced this baseball journey in the Nation’s Capitol.”