Stephen Strasburg came onto the scene like few do, a quote un quote sure thing. A superstar from conception, maybe even the best pitcher this game will ever see.
These statements and headlines sat on the shoulders of Strasburg since being drafted, not that he didn’t deserved some of it from his play. It is still a lot for a young man to carry through the minors, few live up to it.
The ones that do, or even come close to it, now those guys get remembered. They get talked about for centuries, known as the greats. Or the icons, or my personal favorites; the legends.
Stephen Strasburg: Immediate Impact
In 2010 and 2011 the young 20 and 21 year old righty out of San Diego State University struggled to with injuries. He went through a few minor set backs, yet when he was on the mound, he was electric. Posting an ERA sub three and a winning record over 10 starts.
Once 2012 came along, Strasburg would make his first all-star game selection having a beautiful season pitching. He went 15-6 with an ERA of 3.16 over 28 starts while only giving up 15 home runs on the year. In the batters box this season he wasn’t too shabby either, snagging a silver slugger award, back when pitchers had to hit.
Over the next few seasons the Washington Nationals continued to get better. Two things were for sure about this team. Bryce Harper was gonna hit and Steven Strasburg was their ace and at the top of league pitching wise.
After a few more all star appearances and getting notoriety as a Cy Young candidate and MVP. Something happened, something special, Strasburg reach the level of dominance that was on his shoulders coming out of the draft.
Stephen Strasburg Had a Year
In 2019 the Nationals started the season off 19-31 and were coming off of a five game losing streak. Another season over before June. The fans and the players had been a part of these type of teams for years now.
Then lighting in the bottle struck, and boy did it start a fire. Washington would finish that season 93-69 and trail blaze their way through the playoffs.
At the middle of this run was Stephen Strasburg, quietly being the best pitcher in baseball all season. Then somehow getting even better once the post season began.
The 2019 Washington Nationals rode Strasburg’s shoulders, the same shoulders in which carried all of the expectations a decade prior, to a championship.
All of the hype and noise around Strasburg made sense in those moments. In that season, in the World Series, Stephen Strasburg was the best.
He took home World Series MVP honors and immortalized his name into a history books. He shut up all the nay-sayers, yet most importantly he put a banner in a park and his name in the hearts of the fans.
Career Numbers: 13 Years
- 113-62 Record
- 65% Winning %
- 3.24 ERA
- 247 Starts, 1,470 Innings Pitched, 1,723 Strike Outs
- 32.3 WAR, 1.096 WHIP
- 3x All Star
- Silver Slugger
- World Series Champion
- World Series MVP
I would be surprise if number 37 did not live forever in the rafters of the Washing Nationals park alongside the other great, icons, legends who dawned the teams colors.
I am honored to have watched his entire career, from the hype in high school to the World Series MVP.
Enjoy Retirement.
Rowan Donaghey is a Sports and Betting insider for Stare Down Sports. You can follow him on twitter via @RowanDonaghey
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