Nationals pitcher Stephen Strasburg’s career is in jeopardy due to ‘severe nerve damage’ that puts 34-year-old at risk of NEVER playing again
- Strasbourg was crucial to the Nats’ first World Series title in 95 years in 2019
- The 34-year-old won World Series MVP honors as Washington defeated Houston
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Washington Nationals right-hander Stephen Strasburg has “severe nerve damage,” leading to doubts he will ever throw again, The Washington Post reported Saturday.
Strasbourg, 34, was shut down more than a month ago because he was unable to participate in any form of rehabilitation, according to the report. He had surgery for thoracic outlet syndrome and hasn’t pitched in a game since last June.
He has a history of nerve problems.
After an off-season pitching session at Nationals Park in Washington in February, he reported nerve pain in his neck and shoulder. He missed spring training and was placed on the 60-day injured list before Opening Day, and while he is eligible to be released, it is not in the Nationals’ plans.
While he continued to try to stay in shape by working out his lower body, that stopped due to pain, tingling and numbness.
Stephen Strasburg may never pitch for the Nationals again due to ‘severe nerve damage’
Strasbourg met ex-US President Donald Trump when the Nats visited the White House in 2019
Strasburg has pitched just 31 1/3 innings in three seasons since winning World Series MVP honors in 2019 when Washington defeated the Houston Astros in the Fall Classic.
In the 2019 regular season, Strasburg pitched 209 innings and finished with an 18–6 record, going on to sign a seven-year, $245 million deal with the Nationals.
Last season, he made one appearance and threw 4 2/3 innings in a loss to the Miami Marlins on June 9, giving up seven earned runs on eight hits with two walks and five strikeouts.
According to the Post, the plan is to rest Strasburg and see if the nervous conditions improve.
The team has nothing to lose by playing the waiting game as the Nationals are on the hook for the remaining three seasons of his contract, according to the report.
In 2019, Strasburg won World Series MVP honors as Washington defeated the Houston Astros
His age and injury history would have made the cost of insuring his contract exorbitant, provided the Nationals could have even found a company willing to provide disability insurance, according to the Post.
Strasburg has been away from the Nationals for the most part. He did not attend their opening day game, does not travel with the team and has not spent much time in the locker room for home games, according to the Post, which added that manager Dave Martinez no longer includes the pitcher in his injury reports.
Strasburg, a three-time All-Star, has spent his entire 13-year major league career with the Nationals. He was the first overall pick in the 2009 draft from San Diego State.
He is 113-62 with a 3.24 ERA over 247 career starts. His 1,723 strikeouts rank first in Nationals franchise history.