The Washington Nationals’ pitching staff is having a rough day. Max Scherzer is likely to be traded and now Stephen Strasburg is going under the knife.
This afternoon, Nationals manager Davey Martinez announced that Strasburg will undergo neurogenic thoracic outlet surgery tomorrow to fix the nerve issue that has plagued him this summer. Strasburg has not pitched since June 1.
Since signing a seven-year, $246 million contract following the 2019 season, Strasburg has pitched in only seven games due to injury. He started two games in 2020 and five this year.
The Nationals are hopeful that the 33-year-old Strasburg will be ready to pitch in 2022. However, pitchers who have had thoracic outlet surgery in the past–Matt Harvey and Phil Hughes are two major examples–have largely struggled to return to pitch effectively.
Thoracic outlet syndrome typically caused by compression of nerves between neck/armpit. Symptoms include numbness/tingling in fingers/hands, fatigue, weakness. Strasburg had numbness in hand last year, had carpal tunnel surgery. Also missed time in 2018 with nerve issue in neck.
— Mark Zuckerman (@MarkZuckerman) July 27, 2021
Thoracic outlet syndrome is about as close to a career-killer as pitchers get, I hope Strasburg beats the odds but I’m not optimistic and boy does that bum me out https://t.co/h9Y2CO2uhx
— Jon Tayler, Top 0.1% On OnlyJons (@JATayler) July 27, 2021
I will always ALWAYS love Stephen Strasburg, regardless of what happens, regardless of contract, regardless if he ever plays again. pic.twitter.com/Jgghz6065A
— Nationals on Reddit (@NatsOnReddit) July 27, 2021
Couple lost seasons in a row now for Strasburg. That contract is not looking pretty https://t.co/BoaM97MlhP
— Fantasy Baseball Quick Hitter (@quick_hitter) July 27, 2021
Stephen Strasburg’s base salary each of the last two seasons has been $35 million. He’s made seven starts over that span and won’t make another this year.
The Nationals have paid Strasburg $10 million per start since signing him to his seven-year, $245 million extension in 2019.
— Matt Weyrich (@ByMattWeyrich) July 27, 2021
The No. 1 overall pick in the 2009 MLB Draft, Strasburg has proven to be a pretty high-level MLB pitcher: 113-61 overall record, 3.21 career ERA, 1.09 career WHIP and 1,718 strikeouts in 1,465.1 innings.
The issue for the hard-throwing righty has always been staying healthy. He’s made 30 or more starts in a season only three times in his career and has largely been sidelined the last two years.
Here’s hoping we haven’t seen the last of Strasburg as a solid major league pitcher.
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