• In high school, Stephen quit basketball and soccer because they interfered with his travel baseball seasons.

  UPS AND DOWNS AT SAN DIEGO STATE

• Strasburg was a fan of the Padres while growing up in the area. He was born in San Diego and pitched for West Hills High in Santee, about 10 miles northeast of the San Diego State University campus.

• In college, he moved out of his dorm five days into the semester because the noise prevented him from getting a full sleep before morning practice. Though Strasburg had reported to college at 250 pounds, the torture of sweating off the extra weight never prevented him from wanting to. First to show up, first to throw up—that's how it worked during his freshman year conditioning sessions, when he trimmed down to 225.

• He was a straight arrow in the classroom. He carried a 4.67 grade-point average in high school. And he picked up his baseball mitt every day of the year. He never even attended a concert until 2009. "He knows how to close in on a goal," his mother, Kathy Swett, said.

• When he got to San Diego State as a freshman, pitching coach Rusty Filter told Stephen that pro scouts saw him as a kid who lacked mental toughness and coach-ability.

  "When Coach Filter told me what everybody was saying behind my back, that really pissed me off," Strasburg said. "I was out there to prove them all wrong. To this day, that's kind of a sore spot in my heart. But it's fueled the fire to get me where I am today."

  Strasburg shed almost 30 pounds his first year at SDSU, developing muscle and tone. And he added 8 mph between his freshman and sophomore seasons, eventually hitting 101 mph. Stephen added Bikram yoga classes to improve his concentration and flexibility. His mom a retired dietitian, taught him how to cook his own healthy burritos.

• Stephen was 6-foot-4 but weighed 250 pounds and did not wear it well. At times he seemed undisciplined on the mound.

  "I was a chubby kid, with a poor mental game out there," Strasburg admitted. He had never lifted weights in his life, and after practice every day went to Estrada's Taco Shop and scarfed down a California burrito, packed with carne asada and French fries. He was so heavy his knees would occasionally buckle while on the mound because they couldn't support his weight.

  And, he would get upset with teammates when they made mistakes, and he would completely lose his composure on the mound at other times. He would even challenge his coach and the umpires. Pro scouts backed off completely.

• Although recruited by a number of schools across the country, he enrolled at San Diego State University, where both of his parents attended school. When he first arrived, he was an unlikely candidate to pitch collegiate baseball at all. He was so overweight and out of shape that his conditioning coach nicknamed him "Slothburg" and encouraged him to quit baseball.

  He also had a difficult time adjusting to college life, moving out of his dormitory and in with his mother after five days.

  He acknowledged, "I wasn't the most mature guy out of high school. The dorm was an overload, too much, too soon." But Strasburg responded.

  With an intense workout regimen, Strasburg lost 30 pounds in the process. He also worked to improve his mental toughness. Coaches tested him by placing him in high-pressure situations and telling him he needed to get strikeouts.

• In April 2008, he made news with a 23-strikeout effort in a complete-game, one-hit shutout of Utah.

• In 2008, Stephen went 8-3 with a 1.57 ERA for San Diego State, striking out 133 and only walking 16 in 97 innings. His senior year, Stephen had a 1.68 ERA with 74 strikeouts in 62 innings. He threw 90 mph.

• On May 8, 2009, Strasburg threw his first career no-hitter (since Little League) while facing an aggressive Air Force lineup at Tony Gwynn Stadium. The Aztecs won, 5-0, in front of a stadium-record crowd of 3,337. Stephen struck out 17 while throwing a fairly economical 116 pitches.

  He started the game by striking out two of the game's first three batters looking, and he punctuated it by striking out the side in the ninth to end it, throwing down his glove and jumping into his catcher's arms in jubilation. He also struck out the side in the second and the sixth. The only inning he didn't record a strikeout was in the eighth, and he was never really challenged.

• In August 2008, Strasburg was the only amateur on an Olympic team of professionals. He had already donned the Team USA uniform early in the summer of 2008, starring for the college national team. He was 3-0, 1.33 ERA over 27 innings, striking out 40. The USA won the bronze medal.

• Strasburg says his favorite athlete is Jake Peavy.

• In 2009, Strasburg got drafted by the Nationals (see Transactions below).

• In 2010, the Baseball America Prospect Handbook named Strasburg as the #1 prospect in the Nationals organization.

• Stephen has great makeup both on and off the field. He is low-key and a home body who likes to stay out of the public eye.

• On January 9, 2010, Strasburg and his wife, the former Rachelle Lackey, were married before several hundred friends and family members at a winery outside San Diego. The couple dated for 18 months before getting married.

  Stephen and Rachelle had met at "State," as he calls his alma mater. Of her, he says: "We're great together, and we're really excited to start our new life together. I need her by my side as much as she needs me."

  They honeymooned in Hawaii, on the island of Kauai, and Stephen had his baseball glove in his carry-on luggage. Every other day, he would drive to Kauai High School to throw a bullpen session. The catcher, Lanan Rice-Kashima was a 5-foot-9, 165-pound high school ballplayer whose services had been lined up in advance by Strasburg's agents.

• At the start of Strasburg's first spring training in February 2010, he was nicknamed Jesus.

  Why Jesus? "Because what's the first thing you say when you see him pitch," center fielder Nyjer Morgan said, excited just to answer his own question. "Jeee-sus!"

• Stephen says his wife is his best friend. Rachel was a water polo player in high school. In 2010, they bought a little Yorkie they named Bentley.

  They are a very normal, down-to-earth couple.

• Strasburg has a great baseball intellect and aptitude. He won the Silver Slugger Award during the offseason of 2012.

• Strasburg received his drive and work ethic from his mother, Kathy, a retired dietician who worked at a children's hospital in San Diego. Stephen said it took four people to replace his mother after she left the hospital. Kathy doesn't go to many of Stephen's games, for she is currently taking care of her mother in the San Diego area.

  "She was never really athletic, but once she puts her mind to something, she will get it done," Strasburg said of his mother. "She is very hard working, very selfless. I definitely think she has the work ethic that she gave to me. That's the biggest thing. I know what makes me successful. I focus on getting better, bigger, faster, and stronger. That in the long run is going to help me out."

• James Shields was a workout partner during the winter before 2014 spring training. Shields is one of the game's most reliable workhorses. And he reached out to Stephen, telling him to be mindful of every throw he makes between starts.

  Where before Strasburg would go straight to the bullpen after a poor outing to work out some mechanical flaw he might have noticed. Shields told him that all of those throws accumulate. He can prevent wear if he just trust his arm and his mechanics. One bad start does not require an overhaul.

  Now, Strasburg saves his bullets for the game.

  NEW DAD

• Stephen and his wife, Rachel, celebrated the birth of their first child in October 2013. It changed the way he thinks about life.

  "It puts everything in perspective. At the end of the day, it's a game, and you should enjoy it. There is a lot more to life than just baseball. I'm going to enjoy it while I can play it. I'm also looking forward to other things down the road," Stephen said of daughter Raegan.

  It's hard for Strasburg to believe that he is a father. It seems like yesterday when, at the age of 20, he was selected by the Nationals as the first overall pick in the 2009 draft.

  "I definitely enjoy parenthood. It's fun to come home to," he said during 2014 spring training.

  When he thinks about his daughter, the burden from super-high expectations melts away, because he places his most intense focus on something other than baseball when he is not at the yard.

  "I want to go out there and be successful in this game and help this team win," Stephen said. "But that's not my number one priority now. That's being the best dad I can be. It's awesome. It's amazing how that changes your life. Just the little things: she rolls over or she makes a new noise, it's amazing to see. You don't want to miss any of it."

• Stephen admits how irritated traffic makes him. His wife, Rachel, stays calm even in crisis.

  "I've learned a lot from her," Strasburg said. "If I'm in the car by myself, I'm pretty heated. If she's in there, I'm like, 'All right, just relax.'

  "We're very opposite. She's very easy-going. I need structure. The whole routine, starting and everything, it's got to be the same every time. That's where I feel like I'm trying to be willing to adjust, be willing to change a little easier and not get out of whack."

• Stephen credits his maternal grandmother with helping him develop his baseball skills as a child. She would frequently play catch and even work on pitching with him. He labels her as one of his biggest inspirations.

• Spring Training 2014: While he leads the effort to help the Nationals reach the postseason, Strasburg is showing a different side this year—one that most haven't seen from him. Yes, he's still intense on the mound, but off the field, he is relaxed, more friendly.

  In the past, media members had to pick their spots when talking to Strasburg, but he has grown comfortable in such situations. Being a first-time father can make one see things differently; Strasburg realizes he has to do more than just throw a baseball.

  "He ironed some things out this offseason," teammate Ian Desmond said. "He looks like he is less intense, but more focused. It looks like his life is not hanging on every pitch. He looks ready to go."

  There was a time early in Strasburg's career that he would seem to think too much about his starts, saddling himself with more pressure than necessary.

  "I can speak about my experiences, and I'm sure it's similar to his," Desmond said. "But you want to become a big leaguer so bad. All you want to do is make it to the big leagues. [Strasburg's] situation is multiplied by 100 because he is in the spotlight from Day 1 in his professional career. But you want to fulfill all the expectations, not only from everyone else, but for yourself."

  Strasburg now realizes that at times, the ball is not going to bounce his way, and he has his daughter to thank for being able to see the game from a different perspective.

  "It's huge, being a father," Strasburg said. "It's hard putting it into words. For me, it was easily good start, bad start. It was kind of something that I would constantly be playing over in my head—especially afterward, and sometimes before. And now, you go home and you have a job to do, so you really can't think about those things. It's kind of nice to separate work and home."  (Bill Ladson - MLB.com - 3/28/14)

  CLOSE TO COACH GWYNN

• Stephen says he learned a whole lot from Tony Gwynn, his coach at San Diego State.

  "Tony was a great teacher who helped me in ways that are unimaginable," Strasburg said. "He talked to me about how hitters think. It wasn't about mechanics; it was about attacking hitters, and not giving them too much credit. He taught me about focus and concentration and prepared me for professional baseball, as well as how to take care of all phases of my life. He is a tremendous person."

• On the occasion of Tony Gwynn's death, Strasburg said, "I was a fan first. It just so happens that our lives seemed to intertwine." 

  Strasburg arrived at San Diego State in 2007, and the first time he met with his new teammates and Gwynn—who had just been voted into the Hall of Fame—the baseball legend had a unique message.

  "One of the first things he said was, 'Yeah, I'm going to the Hall of Fame this year, but I'm just your coach,'" Strasburg said. "There's so many things that I'm never going to forget."

  Strasburg absorbed much in the art of baseball from Gwynn during his time at San Diego State, and he developed into a No. 1 draft pick for the Nationals in 2009. But when asked to reminisce about the things he learned from Gwynn, Strasburg did not mention any skills particular to the game. The lessons Gwynn instilled in him were much larger than that.

  "It started with just how to be a man, how to handle the ups and downs, and not everything goes your way in life. I struggled with that," Strasburg said. "He really helped me understand that it's not necessarily the results; it's the work you put in every single day. That's what matters at the end of the day: that you give it everything you've got."

  Gwynn became family to Strasburg over the years: a mentor, a best friend and a brother. When Strasburg made his Major League debut in June 2010, Gwynn was in the stands sitting next to the pitcher's great uncle, making sure to describe in detail everything that was happening on the mound.

  "He wasn't going to miss that," Strasburg said. "And I thought it was just such a special experience for my family, specifically, to be there watching it, my debut, with this legend back in San Diego."

  Strasburg said seeing Gwynn became tough over the past few years, largely because of the Hall of Famer's ongoing battle with salivary gland cancer. Last offseason, Strasburg said he saw Gwynn the least out of any year in which he had been in the Majors.

  "He's impacted so many players," Strasburg said. "And I'm just so blessed to be one of them." (Popper - mlb.com - 6/17/14)

• During an interview in 2014, Strasburg was chewing tobacco. Tony Gwynn believed chewing tobacco was the reason he developed salivary gland cancer. Strasburg said he plans to quit chewing tobacco for the sake of his daughter.

  Strasburg said he started chewing tobacco long before he started playing for Gwynn at San Diego State. Strasburg said he didn't know that Gwynn dipped.

  "I think it's a disgusting habit, looking back on it," Strasburg said. "I was pretty naive when I started. Just doing it here and there, I didn't think it was going to be such an addiction. Bottom line is, I want to be around for my family. This is something that can affect people the rest of your life. [Chewing tobacco is] so prevalent in this game. It's something we all kind of grew up doing." 

• Strasburg was disappointed that he wasn't able to attend Tony Gwynn's funeral. "I thought there was an outside chance I would be able to fly home and attend the private service that they had," Strasburg said. "There was no possible way. It kind of sucked not being able to be there for it."

  Gwynn's funeral was held at San Diego State, and Strasburg was happy to hear that so many people attended the service at his alma mater.

  "He was such an unbelievable person, human being. I mean he touched so many lives. Not only in the San Diego area, but all of baseball," Strasburg said. "One of the things that I really enjoyed watching him as a kid was, he was intense out there on the field, but he always cracked a smile. You could see that everyone was drawn to him. Given a chance to know him on a personal level, you could see how could brighten everyone's day. When we weren't playing well, he always had a smile on his face."  (Ladson - mlb.com - 6/24/14)

• May 8, 2015:  Strasburg will be the first to say that he was spoiled as a child. His mother, Kathy Swett, had a lot to do with that. When Strasburg was a little kid, Swett took notice that her baseball fan son loved Padres great Tony Gwynn in particular. For Strasburg's fourth birthday, Kathy made sure to encourage that.

  "She got me a poster, a jersey, Tony Gwynn with his face on the wristbands," Strasburg said. "We have this picture at home. It's my mom next to me and it's on my birthday with all my family around me. I'm holding this [Tony Gwynn poster] up and I have this big smile.

  "It's kind of funny. My mom gave that photo to Tony on his birthday years back. That picture was in his office throughout his coaching career. It sums up what she has done for me."

  Swett gets emotional when she talks about her only child. It's obvious that Strasburg has returned the favor. "It sounds kind of corny, but he is my heart and soul," Swett said via telephone. "He is my everything."

  Stephen points out that his mother is a caring person who puts everybody before herself. In fact, she retired from her job in order to take care of her mother.

  "It was a commitment that she made a while ago," Stephen said. "My grandparents did so much for her. She wanted to make sure when the time came that they couldn't take care of themselves, she was going to help them any way that she could."

  Strasburg also credits his mother for the stubbornness and determination that he has on the mound.  "I go out there and just work as hard as I possibly can," he said. "I owe that to her."

  Swett knows her son has the tendency to be a perfectionist. "That's what drives him," she said. "He wants to get better and better. He also wants to win. He would like to win all the time, but sometimes you don't." (B Ladson - MLB.com - May 8, 2015)

• Stephen thought about his mentor, Tony Gwynn, when he decided to sign a seven-year, $175 million extension with the Nationals. Gwynn played his entire Major League career with one team, the Padres. Strasburg wanted to follow in his mentor's footsteps and play for one team.

  "Gwynn was my favorite player and my college coach," Strasburg said. "[His staying with the Padres] says a lot about the person that he was. I'm just so thankful to have an opportunity like he did.

  Strasburg, 27, could have been a free agent after the 2016 season, and he would have been one of the most compelling players on the market. Instead, he opted to remain with the team that selected him No. 1 overall in the 2009 draft.

  "Talking to my wife and my mom and dad, I think the biggest thing is we tried to see what our life goals are outside of baseball," Strasburg said. "I think this city and this situation gives us a tremendous opportunity and platform to accomplish those things. We're just very excited to be here for some time."

  Strasburg will get $15 million per season from 2017-2023, in addition to $70 million deferred with no interest from 2024-2030 ($10 million per year). Strasburg could opt out of the contract in three years, which would allow him to become a free agent before his age-31 season. It's the first time the Nationals have given a player an opt-out clause in a contract.

  The negotiations started during Spring Training 2016, when managing principal owner Ted Lerner called Strasburg's agent, Scott Boras, and said he wanted to do a long-term deal with Strasburg. Both sides had a short window to get a deal done. If a deal hadn't been done within the first month or so of the season, Strasburg likely would have tested the free-agent market.  

  "I just really trusted my gut and my heart, prayed about it, and the timing felt right," Strasburg said. "The grass isn't always greener on the other side, so there isn't much else I'd be needing than what's been given to me by this organization."  (Ladson - MLB.com - 5/10/16)

• Jan 30, 2018: Strasburg still calls Tony Gwynn "coach." As a San Diego native, Strasburg grew up idolizing Gwynn, and those feelings only grew when he played for Gwynn in college at San Diego State. Strasburg joined MLB Network to share his best memories of his former coach and mentor in advance of the premiere of "Mr. Padre" an hour-long documentary about the late Hall of Famer. "Mr. Padre" premieres and includes interviews with Gwynn's family, friends, former teammates and peers.

  "I think the biggest thing that I've noticed over the years is all the people that he's touched and that he's impacted," Strasburg said on "Hot Stove". "I think every single person that's in this documentary is going to be pretty special because his impact in the San Diego community is unrivaled."

  Strasburg shared a special bond with Gwynn, who passed away in 2014 after a four-year battle with cancer. Strasburg said Gwynn was his favorite player as a child and joked that his fandom never wavered even after he realized he would never be as good a hitter as Gwynn. Eventually, Strasburg chose to play college baseball for the San Diego State Aztecs with Gwynn as manager. Gwynn was in attendance, sitting near Strasburg's family, during Strasburg's electric MLB debut in 2010, when he struck out 14 against the Braves.

  Strasburg's first season at San Diego State was the year Gwynn was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame, but Strasburg says that election into Cooperstown did not change Gwynn at all.

  "The way he treated us on a daily basis, the amount of time he spent with every single player, it just showed that he was doing everything in his power to give us the best chance to succeed on the field and in life," Strasburg said. "So when you see that kind of attention, you kind of owe it to yourself to give your best effort at the same time." (J Collier - MLB.com - Jan 30, 2018)

• Aug 11, 2016: It's the experience that sticks with so many who have the opportunity to compete in the Olympics, walking around the Olympic Village and realizing they are among the best athletes in the world. That's what stood out to Stephen as he reflected on being a part of the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing.

  There he was at 20 years old, having just finished his sophomore year at San Diego State, walking among stars such as Spain's Rafael Nadal or Germany's Dirk Nowitzki, or riding back on the same shuttle bus as Team USA's gold medal-winning volleyball duo of Misty May-Treanor and Kerri Walsh.

  "That's a pretty neat experience," Strasburg said. "Just little things like that, there's nothing like it."

  The International Olympic Committee announced Aug. 3 that baseball and softball would be among the five sports added for the Tokyo Games in 2020. Baseball and softball will be returning for the first time since those 2008 Olympics in Beijing, when Strasburg won a bronze medal as a member of Team USA.

  Those games will almost certainly not include talent from Major League Baseball, considering they take place during the MLB season. But Strasburg would be in favor of baseball finding a way to incorporate an Olympic break into the baseball season, similar to the way the National Hockey League does so with the Winter Olympics.

  "I think if baseball had a way to do it, I think it shouldn't be just all about money, because there's nothing like representing your country in the Olympics," Strasburg said. "The World Baseball Classic is great, but in my personal opinion, I don't think it has anywhere near the same feelings as being out there in the Olympics."

  Strasburg began that summer of 2008 by pitching for Team USA in the World University Baseball Championship—an international competition for players 23 and younger—when he received a call from USA Baseball president Mike Gaski, asking him to join the Olympic team as well.

  Strasburg was the only college player selected to the team, which was managed by Davey Johnson, Stephen's future manager with the Nationals. Strasburg described Johnson as the same in 2008 as he was during his three years (2011-13) as the manager in Washington: "easygoing, loose and charismatic." The rest of Team USA's roster featured mostly Minor Leaguers, some of whom eventually made it to the Majors, such as Jake Arrieta, Dexter Fowler, Trevor Cahill and Brett Anderson.

  "I was just kind of the youngest of the young guys trying to do my thing," Strasburg said. "It was interesting to see ... the professional side of it and how they go about their business and preparation." (J Collier - MLB.com - Aug 11, 2016)

• Stephen has a solid bond with his wife, Rachel. "My wife has been my foundation," he says. "She's kept me humbled and helped me realize what's important in life. Baseball is just going to pass you by before you know it, so it's important to just enjoy the process and the experience—even though there are some things you wish you didn't have to go through.

  "It's all about a growing experience in this game. Getting to go home to her and Raegan makes this so much easier to deal with, no matter what happens out there on the field."

• Strasburg spent a large chunk of his 2016 offseason in D.C. for the first time. He and his wife, Rachel, purchased a house in Virginia and are still in the process of packing up and moving from San Diego. He helped out more during the offseason, but admits now she has been in charge of most of the work while he focuses on baseball. It's a new process for both of them, a change they are welcoming even though both their families live in the San Diego area.

  Strasburg shocked many across baseball when he decided to sign the extension in May 2016. It had become popular thought that he would head into free agency and end up in California, but he has become comfortable with Washington, and the Strasburgs have found a strong support system. They have come to love Old Town, Alexandria, even though Strasburg described it as pretty much the opposite of where he grew up. They like that the houses are smaller and older and that it feels like a community. The downtown area reminds him of downtown Palo Alto. Rachel often enjoys walking around downtown, taking the dog for a walk or wandering around to find a good restaurant.

  "Now it feels like home," Strasburg said. "Home on the East Coast."

  Being in Washington more this offseason also allowed Strasburg to work out at the Nationals' facilities with the club's staff. They tweaked his conditioning and workout routine to use more of his body weight—pullups, pushups, dips—instead of increasing weight in the weight room. He combined the workouts with more long-distance running along the beach back home in San Diego, something he recalled doing more frequently during and before the 2014 season, the only year he made every start.

  "He works as hard or harder than anybody I've ever been around," GM Mike Rizzo said. "And you can tell by the conditioning of the way he stepped into 2017 Spring Training. He was off the charts in every metric that we analyze."  

  It's another part of Strasburg's evolution during the past few years. He might always be an introvert, but those around him say he is more open now than when he first arrived in the Majors. When he is in the clubhouse, he is often laughing and making jokes with the rest of the pitchers.

  "Stras is a perfectionist," pitching coach Mike Maddux said. "He's not going to leave any stone uncovered that might be a little bit of information or something that's going to help make him better."  (Collier - mlb.com - 3/30/17)

• April 24-27, 2017:  Stephen went on paternity leave as he and his wife, Rachel, are expecting their second child.

• "I’m the longest-tenured pitcher in the NL East,” Stephen said in 2019.

• April 2019 Q&A with MLB.com:

  MLB.com: As a baseball player, what is the biggest thing you learned about yourself in the last 10 years?

  Strasburg: I learned how much of a perfectionist I can be. In a sense, it’s a good thing. In another sense, it might not work to my advantage. It’s just being comfortable with what I can provide on a daily basis, and that’s attitude and effort. Those are the things I can control.

  The mental game is something that is always changing, and it’s always such a huge part of this game. Everybody has ability, everybody has talent. But I think what separates the good ones who might not stick around to the ones who have long careers is their ability to make adjustments and overcome obstacles. 

  MLB.com: The one thing I noticed about you is, you seem a lot more relaxed now than you did when you first came up. What changed?

  Strasburg: You just see familiar faces year in and year out. You get a chance to know people. For me, I know that it takes a while because I’m a pretty reserved, shy person. I had a chance to play with a lot of great players along the way. I had a chance to learn from a lot of great players and coaches, for that matter. Through those experiences, I kind of realized that it gets to the point where you want to pass down some of the wisdom and knowledge that you acquired. The only way to do that is to continue to build relationships with the younger guys in the clubhouse. That’s kind of where your "legacy" is at. In the baseball circle, when guys ask about other guys, they don’t ask, “Is that guy is a good player?” They ask, “What was he like in the clubhouse?” That’s the respect you get across the league—the type of teammate that you are. Not the guy that puts up stupid numbers.

  MLB.com: Jayson Werth and Bryce Harper are no longer on the team. Do you consider yourself one of the leaders of the team?

  Strasburg: I think it’s easy for people on the outside looking in. They want to pinpoint those certain individuals and say they are the leaders in the clubhouse. Typically, it’s the loudest guys. That’s the nature of it. I would like to think if anybody has an issue or wants some advice, my advice, they should be comfortable approaching me, and I would give it to them. Other than that, I would prefer to do my job and not really feel like I need to vocalize it across the clubhouse all the time.  (Ladson - mlb.com - 4/9/19)

• The Nationals insist they have noticed a different Strasburg off the field in 2019, one who is less ornery and serious and more open and relaxed. He danced with the team after hitting a home run earlier this season. Cameras have caught him smiling and laughing more frequently in the dugout and on the field, sights that used to be a rarity.  (Collier - mlb.com - 9/26/19)

• Nov. 10, 2019: Baseball had never before had an official star squad that salutes a full season's worth of work the way other major professional sports do. But the results of the voting for the first All-MLB Team finally arrived at the Winter Meetings. Strasburg was named to the first team starting pitching group.

• Dec 17, 2019: This was mere formality. Sure, Stephen opted out of the final four years of his previous contract following October’s World Series triumph, and sure, given the nature of contract talks, it may have crossed his mind a few times in the ensuing weeks that he wouldn’t remain in D.C. But in the grand scheme, seldom was there a real likelihood that Strasburg wouldn’t be given the opportunity to become “a Nat for life.”

  “I became a father, I became a husband as a National,” Strasburg said at the press conference that formally re-introduced him and celebrated the seven-year contract he signed during the Winter Meetings. “I’ve grown with this organization, and it’s become home to me.”

  Flanked by GM Mike Rizzo to his right and his agent, Scott Boras, to his left, Strasburg preached just how comfortable a landing spot Washington has become for him and his family. Just 10 years earlier, baby-faced and before the birth of his two daughters, one of whom just started school in the D.C. area, Strasburg said he could feel the pressure that came with being the franchise’s first No. 1 overall Draft pick.

  “Looking back on 2009, it was a little nerve-wracking, to be honest,” Strasburg said. “I’m a San Diego guy, and I didn’t really know what the East Coast had to offer. But the Nationals were there from the beginning.”

  Now, the Nationals will be there until the end. Strasburg will most likely have the rare distinction of serving the entirety of his career with a single franchise. It’s a path taken by his childhood idol and coach at San Diego State, Tony Gwynn.

  “As much as the Nats fans who have been here since Day One have grown up with the organization and continued to pass the tradition down to their kids, that’s something you want to be a part of,” Strasburg said. “That’s something that’s really cool.”

  Emotions aside, Rizzo said that while he felt confident about his chances to bring back Strasburg, he had to play the “What if?” game. “It's a little bit nerve-wracking, but we felt confident throughout the process that Stephen wanted to be here, we wanted him here and it was just kind of getting to the bottom line, which was a number that made sense for him and for us,” Rizzo said. 

• Strasburg re-solidifies a rotation alongside Aníbal Sánchez, Patrick Corbin and Max Scherzer, who was in attendance to support his co-ace.

  “For him to be in free agency, when you win, this is where you want to be,” Scherzer said. “You want to get the team back together and be a part of it. I'm just glad the ownership did that, went out there and got the deal done so he could be a Nat for life.”

  “[The Lerners have] built one of the best organizations throughout the league, and their commitment to winning is one of the big reasons I wanted to stay on board,” Strasburg said.

  The brotherhood of the pitching staff also played a large role in Strasburg's decision to return. They helped foster a desirable culture, one he wanted to keep alive by trying to lobby Anthony Rendon, who was introduced as an Angel just days prior, to follow in his footsteps and remain a National.

  “The things that we really enjoy about this game are the day-in and day-out grind, trying to perfect something that's almost impossible to perfect: the craft that comes with pitching,” Strasburg said. “It's not where you stack up in history or what your legacy's going to be, what they're going to say in the record books. It's really a matter of when everything is over, what will I wish I had done? That's something that's always fueled the fire for me: the simplest things in the game of just going out there and throwing a certain pitch exactly where you want it. That's what kind of makes me tick.”

  Strasburg not only provides a steady hand for the next seven years, but he also brings a fervor and pedigree that made Rizzo and the organization feel comfortable in handing him what had been a record deal.

  His greatness has been solidified over the past few years, Rizzo said, and it’s no more apparent than when October rolls around. Strasburg has a 1.46 career ERA in the postseason in 55 1/3 innings pitched. One hundred sixty-five pitchers have thrown at least 40 postseason innings since ERA became official in both leagues in 1913. The only ones with a lower ERA than Strasburg are Mariano Rivera (0.70) and Sandy Koufax (0.95).

  "I think he’s been an underappreciated superstar for a long, long time," Rizzo said. (Z Silver - MLB.com - Dec 17, 2019)

• The much-hyped 2009 No. 1 draft pick and 2019 World Series MVP has spent his entire career in Washington and is set to retire with an official announcement scheduled for Sept. 9, 2023. 

  Strasburg, 35, hasn’t pitched since making one start in June 2022, his first in over a year after undergoing surgery for thoracic outlet syndrome in 2021. 

  Strasburg has a complicated legacy, as an unbelievably talented and touted prospect who was selected at No. 1. He debuted in 2010 at just 21 years old and went on to start 28 or more games from 2012 to 2014. When healthy, Strasburg was electric and he was never better than in 2019 when he logged a career-high 209 innings over 33 starts and accumulated 18 wins. He was named the Nationals’ World Series MVP and was signed to a seven-year, $245 million contract that December. But he has pitched in just eight games since the magical ’19 season. A three-time All-Star who finished fifth in Cy Young voting in 2019, Strasburg’s career was marred by injuries and ultimately that’s what ended it. Incredibly introverted and uncomfortable with interviews, Strasburg did enjoy helping the younger pitchers the last few years when he was around (he largely disappeared after ’19). He ends things with a career 32.3 WAR, a 113-62 record and a 3.24 ERA in 247 career starts. (Ghiroli - Aug 24, 2023 - The Athletic)

• Sept 8, 2023:  A press conference for the retirement of Nationals right-hander Stephen Strasburg tentatively planned has been postponed, and managing principal owner Mark D. Lerner released a statement that responded to several reports on Strasburg’s status with the club.

  Strasburg was placed on the 60-day injured list on March 30 because of thoracic outlet syndrome. In June, The Washington Post reported the right-hander had “severe nerve damage” and was shut down from baseball activities. He last pitched on June 9, 2022.

  Lerner’s statement regards reports about Strasburg’s seven-year, $245 million contract signed in December 2019 and the former 2019 World Series MVP’s plans to retire:

  Stephen Strasburg is and always will be an important part of the Washington Nationals franchise. We support him in any decision he makes and will ensure that he receives what is due to him.

  It is regrettable that private discussions have been made public through anonymous sources attempting to negotiate through the media. While we have been following the process required by the Collective Bargaining Agreement, behind-the-scenes preparations for a press conference had begun internally. However, no such event was ever confirmed by the team or promoted publicly. It is unfortunate that external leaks in the press have mischaracterized these events.

  It is our hope that ongoing conversations remain private out of respect for the individuals involved. Until then, we look forward to seeing Stephen when we report to Spring Training.Sincerely,

  Washington Nationals Managing Principal Owner Mark D. Lerner (B Kerr - MLB.com - Sept 8, 2023)

• April 7, 2024: Strassburg announced his retirement from Major League Baseball.
  
  

• April 7,2024:  After a World Series championship and winning the corresponding World Series MVP Award, three All-Star selections, one Silver Slugger honor and a dazzling 13-year career, right-hander Stephen Strasburg has retired from baseball, the Nationals announced prior to the 3-2 victory over the Phillies at Nationals Park.
  
  He concluded his career with a 113-62 record and 3.24 ERA in 247 starts.
  
  Strasburg, 35, had not pitched in a game since June 9, 2022, because of thoracic outlet syndrome.
   
  "As a young kid, all I dreamt about was winning a World Series. Thanks to the many coaches, teammates and medical staff, my boyhood dream came true in 2019," Strasburg said in a statement. "Despite this being a personal goal of mine, I've come to realize how truly important and special that moment was for the many fans in the DMV. Your unwavering support through all the ups and downs will always mean the world to me.
   
  "I'd also like to thank the late Ted Lerner and family for giving me the chance to wear the curly W all these years. Although I will always wish there were more games to be pitched, I find comfort knowing I left it all out there for the only team I've known. My family and I are truly fortunate and blessed to have experienced this baseball journey in the Nation's Capitol."
  
  Strasburg was the No. 1 overall pick in the 2009 Draft out of San Diego State University. He made his Major League debut just one year later on June 8, 2010, beginning his tenure as one of the Nationals’ most dominant pitchers.
   
  “On behalf of the Lerner - Cohen - Tanenbaum family, I’d like to thank Stephen for all he’s done for the Washington Nationals," said managing principal owner Mark Lerner in a statement. "It was a privilege to watch him grow as a player and a person throughout his illustrious career. He gave us so many memories that will live in our hearts forever. No one can dispute the indelible impact he had on our organization. He put us on the map as world champions and changed the face of our franchise. Thank you, Stephen -- for everything -- and congratulations on a tremendous career.” (J Camerato - MLB.com - April 7, 2024)
  
  

            TRANSACTIONS

• On June 9, 2009: Strasburg was the very first player chosen in the draft, by the Nationals. And just moments before midnight on August 17 the deadline to sign, Stephen agreed to a record-setting $15 million bonus spread over four years, plus incentives. Mark Baca is the scout who signed Strasburg.

• January 10, 2014: Strasburg and the Nationals avoided arbitration by agreeing to a $3.97 million contract for 2014, plus performance bonuses.

• January 16, 2015: Stephen and the Nats again avoided arbitration, agreeing to a $7.4 million for 2015.

• January 15, 2016: The Nats and Strasburg avoided arbitration by agreeing to a one-year contract for $10.4 million.

• May 9, 2016: Strasburg and the Nationals agreed on a seven-year, $175 million extension.

  November 2, 2019: Stephen opted out of his contract, becoming a free agent.

• December 9, 2019: Strasburg and the Nats agreed on a 7-year, $245 million contract, averaging a record $35 million per season. About $11 million is deferred on an annual basis throughout the lifetime of the contract.

• April 6, 2024: Strassburg retired.

• Strasburg is a power pitcher with a 95-103 mph rising four-seam FASTBALL, a 92-95 mph two-seam SINKER he rarely ever uses. Stephen has a fine 82-84mph CURVEBALL, a sweeping 90-92 mph SLIDER, and a solid 88-90 mph CHANGEUP.

• 2016 Season Pitch Usage: 4-seam Fastball: 56.9% of the time; Sinker only .3% of the time; Change 13.0%; Slider 17.2%; and Curve 12.6% of the time.

  2017 Season Pitch Usage: 4-seam Fastball: 51.8% of the time; Sinker only .3% of the time; Change 18.9%; Slider 6.6%; and Curve 22.6% of the time. (Brooks Baseball)

  2018 Season Pitch Usage: 4-seam Fastball: 44.9% of the time; Sinker 7%; Change 19.9%; Slider 8.6%; and his Curve 19.6% of the time. Average velocity: 4-seam 95.2 mph, Sinker 94.4, Change 88.6, Slider 88.2, and Curve 82.2 mph.

  2019 Season Pitch Usage: 4-seam Fastball: 29.4% of the time; Sinker 18.7%; Change 20.7%; Slider less than 1%; and his Curve 30.9% of the time. Average velocity: 4-seam 94.3 mph, Sinker 94.1, Change 88.1, Slider 88.1, and Curve 81.6 mph.

  2020 Season Pitch Usage: 4-seam Fastball: 31.7% of the time; Sinker 16.5%; Change 20.7%; and his Curve 31.1% of the time. Average velocity: 4-seam 92.4 mph, Sinker 92.2, Change 87.6, and Curve 79.9 mph.

• He did not use his slider much in 2015, but brought it back in 2016, using it about 17 percent of the time, as of the end of June.

• He is 6 feet 4, broad shoulders but wiry, sharp command, a cold stare, and a fastball so good that it's nearly apocryphal.

  Strasburg knows how to use every bit of his 6-foor-4 frame. His arm angle is such that, when he comes downhill with that 98 mph-plus fastball, nobody can hit it.

  At the top of his delivery, he turns his left hip slightly toward third base, as if pulling back a bow and arrow, and then unloads with a high three-quarter release. It is very smooth. It just doesn't look like he's throwing as hard as he is.

• Stephen throws strikes. He has excellent control with all of his pitches, and he also has very advanced command within the strike zone. 

• There are a few baseball people who have concern that Strasburg eventually could break down because he locks out his elbow on his follow through, putting torque on his shoulder. But none of those people would even suggest changing any of his mechanics.

• In 2014, Strasburg added another weapon to his arsenal—he debuted his new slider during Spring Training.

• April 6, 2016: Strasburg set a Nationals all-time record (since 2005) for most career strikeouts. He surpassed former teammate Jordan Zimmermann.

• May 30, 2016: Strasburg became the first starter in franchise history to win his first nine decisions in a season, one more than Pedro Martinez in 1997. 

• June 4, 2016: Strasburg struck out the 1,000th batter of his career. Strasburg already held the Nationals record for most career strikeouts, and he also became the first pitcher in franchise history to tally all of his 1,000 career strikeouts with Washington (2005-present). The 855 innings it took for Strasburg to reach the 1,000-strikeout mark is the second fewest in MLB history to Kerry Wood's 853 innings.

• July 7, 2016: Strasburg became the first National League starter to begin a season 12-0 since Rube Marquard set the MLB record in 1912, when he started 19-0. 

• July 21, 2016: Stephen recorded his first loss of the season, losing 6-3 to the Dodgers. Strasburg finished with the second-longest winning streak in D.C. baseball history, behind righthander Firpo Marberry, who won 17 straight between 1930-31. Strasburg became the eighth starting pitcher in baseball history to begin a season at least 13-0 and the first NL pitcher to do so since 1912.

  "During that streak, he was outstanding," Baker said. "You know every streak's going to end—that's the best streak I've ever seen. So now you just go back to the drawing board and start a new streak." (Collier - MLB.com)

• May 27, 2017: Strasburg posted a career high 15 strikeouts vs. the Padres.

• September 5, 2017:  Stephen threw six scoreless innings and struck out eight batters in the Nationals' 2-1 win over the Marlins at Marlins Park.  

  Strasburg, who shut out the Marlins, 4-0, on Aug. 30 at Nationals Park, ran his scoreless innings streak to 26, the most since the franchise moved to Washington in 2005. Gio Gonzalez had a stretch of 25 frames without surrendering a run from April 12-29, 2012.

• 2017 season: By the end of the season, there was perhaps no more dominant pitcher in all of Major League Baseball than Strasburg. No one posted a lower ERA than Strasburg's 0.86 mark following the All-Star break, which included a streak of 35 consecutive scoreless innings.

  He made 28 starts and struck out 204 batters in 175.1 innings with a 2.52 ERA and a 2.72 Fielding Independent Pitching mark. As batters around MLB put up record-setting home run numbers, Strasburg lead the Majors by holding opposing hitters to 0.67 home runs per nine innings.

  It's not like Strasburg's first half was bad, either, considering he made the NL All-Star team for the third time in his career. But after a three-week stint on the disabled list ended in August, he began his strong run to finish the season. In 10 starts after the break, Strasburg struck out 10.9 batters per nine innings and held opposing batters to a .457 OPS. His scoreless-inning streak was the longest in franchise history and the longest for any pitcher since 2015, according to the Elias Sports Bureau.

• Best pitch: changeup.

  The luxury about Strasburg's changeup is that he can use it whenever he wants. It's most often a lethal put-away pitch. Strasburg is comfortable throwing it inside the strike zone, and it has enough movement to tantalize opposing hitters to chase it out of the zone. He can even start throwing it in the strike zone to use as a pitch to induce weak contact to get ground balls. At the end of April 2018, opposing hitters were hitting .150 against it, with one extra-base hit. 

  Strasburg's changeup still has an average velocity at 88.5 mph in his career, about 7 mph different from his fastball. This changeup has a sharp drop as it nears the plate, which helps him generate swings and misses.

  "It looks just like his fastball coming out," Nats catcher Matt Wieters said. "I think you kind of look back to Curt Schilling where he'd throw his splitter all the time. It's almost that kind of action, more than a straight changeup would be. Where it comes out looking like a fastball and kind of drops off the table. It is a straight change, but it acts more like a splitter would."

  Statcast fact: Of the 80 pitchers who have had at least 200 at-bats end with a changeup, Strasburg has allowed the lowest batting average (.136) and slugging percentage (.208) to opposing hitters since Statcast began tracking in 2015.  (Collier - mlb.com - 5/03/18)

• September 18, 2018: After giving up a leadoff home run to Peter O'Brien in the second inning, Strasburg hit the next batter before settling down, embarking on a strikeout streak that retired six consecutive Marlins batters.  Stephen struck out the side in both the second and third innings, five of those recorded with nasty changeups, before Marlins catcher J.T. Realmuto ended the run with a single to lead off the fourth inning.

  The Nationals' club record is nine consecutive strikeouts, set by Max Scherzer against the Mets on Oct. 3, 2015.

  "I'm just trying to execute pitches," Strasburg said. "You get two strikes, you want to try and put them away. I thought the two-seamer was working pretty well tonight. The changeup was working well. Four-seam command was a little off, but I was able to make a pitch or two when I needed to."  (Sattell - mlb.com)

• April 21, 2019: Stephen dominated the Marlins for eight shutout innings giving up only two hits, with 11 strikeouts, leading the Nationals to a 5-0 victory, Strasburg notched a club milestone, becoming the club’s all-time leader in career innings pitched in a Nationals uniform.

  “It’s huge,” manager Dave Martinez said. “He comes out there today, day game after a night game, and shoves. He really does.”  (Collier - mlb.com)

• May 2, 2019: Stephen achieved his latest Major League milestone, recording the 1,500th strikeout of his career by freezing Cardinals starter Dakota Hudson with a 1-2 curveball. He became the fastest pitcher in MLB history, by innings, to do so.
  
  It was part of a masterful effort from Strasburg, who endured a 2 hour and 32 minute rain delay, to toss 6.2 innings of one-run ball with nine strikeouts and lift the Nationals to a 2-1 victory they so badly needed.

  
  “For all he's been through, the expectations that he came into this organization with, some of the injuries he's dealt with over his career, I'm really happy for him to get a milestone like this at home,” closer Sean Doolittle said. “And he's pitching really, really well right now." 

  To reach the milestone, Strasburg needed just 1,272 innings, besting the mark set by Chris Sale at 1,290 innings. It’s an accomplishment made more impressive when considering his lengthy injury history. Only twice in Strasburg’s career (2013 and 2014) has he been healthy enough to make at least 30 starts. Only twice in his career has he recorded at least 200 strikeouts (2014 and 2017).

  And despite those injuries, he still managed to reach this accomplishment faster than any pitcher in MLB history.

  “That's impressive. I mean it really is,” manager Dave Martinez said. “Here's a guy that missed a considerable amount of time in his career and still has 1,500 strikeouts. That just only tells me what an unbelievable pitcher he is, and the way he's going right now, if he stays healthy, the sky is the limit."  (Collier - mlb.com)

• June 4, 2019:  Stephen recorded his 100th career win, all in a Washington uniform, making him the first pitcher in team history to reach the century mark.

• July 3, 2019: Both Stephen and his catcher Yan Gomes were so locked in against the Marlins in the fourth inning at Nationals Park that they didn’t even realize what they had accomplished. Strasburg had missed a spot on the first pitch of the inning, but it did not immediately register to him that the pitch still landed in the strike zone. Gomes threw the ball around the infield following the third out, like he normally does, but it did not occur to him that perhaps he should have kept the ball until he was back in the dugout.

  Strasburg had just thrown the fifth immaculate inning of the 2019 season and the first of his career, a dominant frame as part of his best outing of the year. Strasburg rang up a season-high 14 strikeouts in 7 1/3 scoreless innings to lead the Nationals to a 3-1 victory over the Marlins.

  Washington was carried by Strasburg, whose immaculate inning was the fourth in franchise history. Strasburg’s spotless frame—when he punched out Garrett Cooper, Neil Walker, and Starlin Castro on nine pitches—came by mostly relying on his fastball. He threw four two-seamers, two of which were painted on the outside corner to freeze Cooper and Castro. Strasburg blew a 95-mph four-seam fastball past Walker to record the other strikeout.

  Strasburg joined Max Scherzer (twice; June 5, 2018, vs. the Blue Jays, and May 14, 2017, vs. the Phillies) and Jordan Zimmermann (May 6, 2011, vs. the Marlins) as the only pitchers in team history to accomplish the feat. Boston's Chris Sale (twice), Toronto's Thomas Pannone, and Milwaukee's Josh Hader are the other pitchers who have thrown an immaculate inning this season. And yet neither member of the Nats’ battery realized they had achieved an immaculate inning at the time.

  “It kind of dawned on me a little later on,” Strasburg said.

  “When things are rolling like that,” Gomes said, “you kind of just keep going batter to batter.”  (Collier - mlb.com)

• July 29, 2019: “He's taking the ball every start and keeps getting better,” second baseman Brian Dozier said. “Obviously he's really good and it's tough to realize that, but he has.”

  Dozier is on to something.

  Strasburg had already been relying more heavily on his curveball this year 2019, but that trend became more pronounced in July. He has been throwing his curveball 32.9 percent of the time, the largest gap between his curveball and the rest of his pitches of the season, according to Statcast. The next-most-frequent pitch choice has been his four-seam fastball, which he is throwing just 25.8 percent of the time this month in July. Strasburg began the day with the fifth-most strikeouts on curveballs in baseball.

  But his primary put-away pitch has been his changeup. He has a 50 percent strikeout rate on plate appearances that end with a changeup.

  “If you’ve got an elite pitch wouldn’t you want to throw it as much as possible?” Nats pitching coach Paul Menhart said. “He’s got three of them, so it’s actually what’s working that day most effectively. The changeup and the curveball are interchangeable, so sometimes he has a little better feel for one or the other.”

  Although Strasburg is throwing fewer fastballs overall, his velocity is going up. His average fastball velocity (combining two-seamers and four-seamers) is 94.4 mph, an increase from 93.7 mph in June and the hardest it’s been all season. The velocity on his four-seamer averaged 94.3 mph, so he used it frequently. 

  “A lot of times, I think his stuff should be illegal because it’s so good,” center fielder Victor Robles said through team interpreter Octavio Martinez. (J Collier - MLB.com - July 29, 2019)

• Aug 9, 2019: Another one in the record book for Strasburg. By striking out three Mets batters in the first three innings, Strasburg passed Steve Rogers for the most strikeouts in franchise (Nationals/Expos) history.

  Strasburg’s first strikeout came against Jeff McNeil in the first inning. Strasburg then struck out J.D. Davis in the second before fanning Todd Frazier in the third for his 1,622nd career strikeout.

  “It’s definitely a blessing,” Strasburg said. “I wasn’t really thinking about it. I didn’t know what was really happening. I’m just going to continue to work hard and get better."

  Rogers struck out 1,621 batters over his 13-year career with the Expos.

• Sept. 26, 2019:  Strasburg reached the 250-K mark for the first time in his career.

• Oct 4, 2019: “I just learned over the years that pressure's a funny thing, and I think it's something that you have complete control over,” Strasburg said. “There's obviously a lot of expectations, there's a lot of excitement in games, but I really tried over the years to train my mind into thinking that every single game is just as important and just sticking to my approach.”

  His approach from the regular season carried over as well. He threw the Dodgers a steady stream of curveballs, 34 of his 85 pitches, to keep them off balance. He induced 20 swings and misses, the most by any Nationals pitcher in a postseason game since that famous "flu game," when he got 23 whiffs.

  And he did it all on two days’ rest, against the NL’s highest-scoring offense and on the road. Strasburg acknowledged he began to feel fatigued late in the game, which is why he was taken out with 85 pitches after six innings. But he had done his job and nearly willed the Nats to victory.

  “Stras was on top of his game,” said Max Scherzer, who helped preserve Strasburg’s win with a scoreless eighth inning of relief. “He did an unbelievable job for us ... pitching on short rest from the Wild Card Game and going out there and delivering stuff like that when we needed it.” (J Collier -MLB.com - Oct 5, 2019)

• Oct 14, 2019: It was the latest in a line of dominant postseason outings from Strasburg. He lowered his postseason ERA to 1.10, the third lowest in MLB history (minimum six starts), trailing only Sandy Koufax (0.95) and Christy Mathewson (1.06).

  Strasburg has made six career postseason starts and recorded at least 10 strikeouts in four of them. He became just the fifth pitcher in postseason history with multiple games of at least a dozen strikeouts.

• Oct 30, 2019: Strasburg was selected as the 2019 World Series MVP, winning Games 2 (six innings, two runs, seven strikeouts, one walk) and 6 (8 1/3 innings, two runs, seven strikeouts, five hits, two walks). And both games were on the road.

• April 1, 2020: Why Strasburg's changeup is so nasty: 45.3% chase rate.

  
  A standard changeup thrives on deception. The batter is geared up for a fastball, and instead, he gets something a good bit slower. Ideally, the pitcher helps disguise it with his arm speed and release point. Strasburg has all that, certainly. But his change is a weapon on its own merit. He throws it in the upper 80s with tremendous late movement. It dives toward the dirt and away from a left-handed batter. As teammate Brandon Snyder put it: "It literally looks like it stops and dies."

  Strasburg's changeup renders hitters helpless . . . and not just lefties, who would be the typical target for a righty change. Left-handed hitters went 13-for-93 (.140) with 33 strikeouts against it last year; righties were 11-for-79 (.143) with 43 K’s. Strasburg added 22 more changeup strikeouts during his masterful postseason run, including eight in one game against the Cardinals in the NLCS.

  In 2019, Strasburg threw nearly three quarters of his changeups out of the zone, and opponents still went after almost half of them. When they did so, they missed 56% of the time and batted 10-for-108 (.093), often losing their balance in the process. (A Simon - MLB.com - April 1, 2020)

• 2020 Season: Strasburg made just two starts and pitched only five innings in 2020.

• Stephen is very quick to the plate: 1.1 seconds. So you can't run on him even if you do get on base.

  But he needs work on his move to first base. It is not very good. So in 2014 spring training camp, Strasburg improved his pickoff move and ability to hold runners. He worked on his slide step and varied his looks toward home plate. 

• Strasburg fields his position well. But he is working to improve at fielding bunts.

• Stephen is a very good hitter for a pitcher. 

  He gets in a great hitting position and generates a lot of quickness and bat speed. He has the ability to hit the ball to all fields and has occasional pop with the bat.

• July 19, 2019: According to Elias, Strasburg became just the fifth pitcher in the last 50 years to have two hits in an inning including a homer. He was the first since Edwin Jackson on April 11, 2010. No Nationals/Expos pitcher had ever had two hits in a single inning before Strasburg. (Jamal Collier-MLB.com)

• Nov 2009: Strasburg suffered a twisted left knee during a workout with the Phoenix Desert Dogs of the Arizona Fall League. He was shagging fly balls. Rest and ice, followed by therapy were all that was needed for the inflammation in the knee.

• July 22-August 9, 2010: Stephen was on the D.L. with inflammation in his pitching shoulder.

  August 21, 2010: Strasburg left his start in the 4th inning with a strained flexor tendon in his right forearm, an injury that he had while attending San Diego State University, but pitched through it. He went right back on the D.L.

  And it was discovered Stephen had suffered a significant tear in his ulnar collateral ligament, requiring Tommy John surgery.

• June 1, 2013: An MRI confirmed that Strasburg suffered a strained right oblique in his back, on the right side.

  May 31-June 16, 2013: Strasburg was on the 15-day disabled list with a mild lat strain.

• October 25, 2013: Strasburg underwent successful arthroscopic surgery to remove bone chips from his right elbow. The cleanup procedure was performed by Dr. Neal ElAttrache in Los Angeles. Strasburg was scheduled to resume his throwing program in four to six weeks and was expected to be ready for spring training.

• May 29-June 23, 2015: Stephen had to leave a start after only 16 pitches. He had been experiencing tightness in his neck. He was placed on the DL. Doctors confirmed that he has a strained left trapezius muscle. 

• July 5-Aug. 7, 2015: Strasburg was on the D.L. with a strained left oblique.

• October 2015: Strasburg had surgery to remove a non-cancerous growth from his back. The Nationals had not previously disclosed the procedure. The  growth was "muscular" and reported that it lacked "cancerous intentions." Still, it created irritation that Strasburg had to deal with during the season.

• June 16-July 3, 2016: Strasburg was on the DL with upper back strain.

• Aug 21-Sept 7, 2016: Strasburg went on the DL with right elbow soreness.

• September 8-end of 2016 season: Stephen suffered a strained flexor mass in his forearm, leaving his first start off the D.L. So he missed the 2016 playoffs.

• July 24-Aug 19, 2017: Strasburg was on the DL with right elbow nerve impingement.

• June 9-July 20, 2018: The Nationals placed Strasburg on the disabled list with inflammation in his right shoulder.

• July 25-Aug 22, 2018: Stephen was on the DL with a pinched nerve in his neck.

• July 23-Aug 9, 2020: Stephen Strasburg continues to progress in his recovery from a nerve issue in his right hand.

  Aug 12, 2020: While some injuries are tangible, the effects of Strasburg’s right-hand nerve issue are more challenging to pin down. They don’t always bother him, but when they do creep in, they’re irritating.

  “It’s really hard to manage,” manager Dave Martinez said. “I wish I had a definitive answer; I don’t. We just have to go by what he’s saying and what he feels.”

  Strasburg missed his first two starts of the season because of his right hand. He made his debut against the Orioles, and he felt the irritation toward the end of his 4 1/3-innings outing, which included 26 pitches in the final frame. Strasburg allowed five runs, seven hits, one walk and two strikeouts.

  Aug 14, 2020: Strasburg missed his first two starts this season with a nerve issue in his right hand, but the three-time All-Star felt confident heading into the outing against the Orioles. Sixteen pitches later, his night was over. Even worse, Strasburg’s immediate future is now murky as the Nationals try to figure out why he’s experiencing the nerve issues that have hampered him since the season began.

  “We watched him, and honestly, I didn't like what I saw,” said manager Dave Martinez.

  Aug 15, 2020: Stephen was on the IL with right carpal tunnel neuritis.

  Aug 21, 2020: “Now we’re going to sit back and discuss what the plans are moving forward,” Martinez said before the Nationals opened their series against the Marlins. “I think it’s something that’s going to have to be fixed.”

  Martinez planned to speak with Strasburg to gain insight as to how the 11th-year veteran wants to proceed before the team makes any decisions.

• Aug. 26-Nov 2, 2020:  Strasburg underwent surgery to alleviate carpal tunnel neuritis in his right hand, ending his 2020 season.

  Sept 2, 2020: Stephen is only one week removed from surgery to alleviate carpal tunnel neuritis in his right hand, but according to manager Dave Martinez, last year’s World Series Most Valuable Player is already on the road to recovery.

  Strasburg is prohibited from rehabbing at Nationals Park due to MLB’s COVID-19 protocols, but Martinez said the pitcher is resting at home as he recovers from the surgery. His sutures are slated to be removed next week, at which time Strasburg will be reevaluated.

  Feb 21, 2021: Weeks of discomfort were alleviated by a quick, 15-minute surgery that has Stephen Strasburg back on track for the 2021 season. After experiencing chronic numbness in his right thumb that spread to his hand, he underwent surgery in August 2020 to repair carpal tunnel neuritis. Speaking to the media for the first time since, Strasburg explained how, after exploring less-invasive options, he found the solution to help him return to the mound.

  “It’s a very simple procedure, and I’m lucky that I haven’t had any residual effects from it,” Strasburg said. “It’s pretty much been feeling great and coming out really well. I think, if anything, all the work I’ve done strengthening it has only improved the movement of my pitches.”

  March 29, 2021: Strasburg entered camp looking to ramp up for his 12th season, after carpal tunnel surgery limited him to just five games in 2020. He was hampered this spring by a ruptured plantaris tendon in his left calf, which he is no longer bothered by.

  “That was awesome,” manager Dave Martinez said. “That’s kind of what [pitching coach Jim] Hickey and I really wanted to see. He teeter-tottered today all game, and then those last three batters, he really honed in and did really well. That was a good way to end the spring, and we feel like he’s ready to go.”

• April 18-May 21, 2021: Strasburg was on the IL with right shoulder inflammation.

• June 2-Oct 3, 2021: Strasburg departed from his start against the Braves in the second inning. The Nationals announced that Strasburg has been placed on the injured list with a strained neck. Strasburg flew back to Washington to undergo an MRI and meet with lead team physician Dr. Robin West.

  “He has a bit of nerve irritation,” manager Dave Martinez said after the Nats’ 5-3 win at Truist Park. “It’s coming from his neck. We’re going to get him some rest and go from there, see how fast we can get him back.”

  June 28, 2021: Manager Dave Martinez said Strasburg “came back good” after throwing a 25-pitch bullpen. He played long toss at Nationals Park, and the team will evaluate next steps after seeing how he feels following the throwing session. There is no timetable for his return.

  Strasburg has been facing obstacles in his recovery. He feels OK after throwing long toss, but he has been having an achy feeling after throwing bullpens. This also happened earlier this month following a July 9 bullpen session.

  July 27, 2021:  For the second straight year, Stephen's season has come to a premature end as a result of a lingering injury concern.  Strasburg underwent season-ending surgery in Dallas to address a neurogenic thoracic outlet syndrome (TOS).

  Aug 11, 2021: Strasburg will go through his rehab process at Nationals Park when the team is playing at home, and he will remain in Washington with a member of the training staff when the club goes on the road. “It’s going to take him a while before he starts throwing again,” manager Dave Martinez said.

  Oct 3, 2021:  He is slated to begin throwing on Nov. 2. Said general manager Mike Rizzo, “Our expectation is that he’s going to be pitching to prepare for the 2022 season, at the beginning of the season.” Strasburg has slimmed down “a lot,” according to manager Dave Martinez, and feels “really, really good.”

• March 25, 2022: Manager Dave Martinez is eyeing Strasburg to make 20-25 starts in 2022, as he reiterated the importance of making sure the right-hander is ready for the duration of the season when he returns from thoracis outlet syndrome.

  “We’re going to just take our time,” Martinez said. “It’s been two years, and we’re going to build him up. … We’re going to slowly but surely get him back out there. But when he comes back, we need him back. Two years removed with different injuries is a lot. It’s a lot.”

• April 4-June 9, 2022:  Stephen was placed on the IL, and he will begin the season in West Palm Beach to continue his ramp-up in a return from season-ending thoracic outlet syndrome surgery.

• June 11, 2022:  Strasburg is headed back to the injured list after feeling discomfort following a bullpen session. Medical analysis showed stress reaction in his second and third ribs that is related to his thoracic outlet recovery, Strasburg was reportedly set to miss the remainder of the 2022 season.

  Sept 1, 2022: While Strasburg has not officially ruled out for the season, it is unlikely he will pitch again in 2022.

  “He’s just doing strengthening stuff,” said manager Dave Martinez. “But he said he feels a little bit better so for us, that’s a step in the right direction. But there’s nothing new. He’s not going to throw any time soon. So we’re just going to have to wait and see.” (Editor's note: Strasburg pitched in one game for the Nats in 2022.

  Nov 9, 2022: “He’s continuing his return-to-throw program,” general manager Mike Rizzo said from the GM Meetings. “He’s not in his throwing program yet, but the flexibility and the strength program on his upper body and shoulders is going well. Hopefully, he can progress to start a throwing program before he gets prepared for 2023 Spring Training.”

• March 30, 2023: Stephen was on the IL with Thoracic Outlet Syndrome.

• June 3, 2023: Strasburg was shut down from physical activity due to 'severe nerve damage.'
  
  
• March 24, 2024: Strasburg did not attend Spring Training.
  
  "We're discussing things with Strasburg's camp, and we hope we get something settled with that so we can embrace the man like he's supposed to be embraced,” general manager Mike Rizzo said in mid-March.