Stephen Strasburg had an intriguing career that set the precedent for managing pitcher's arms in the modern era. He was the First Overall Pick in 2009 and debuted for the Nationals the following year, in what was arguably the most highly anticipated pitching debut by an American player. However, he only appeared in 17 games in his first two years as he underwent Tommy John Surgery. Despite this, he was effective in his limited work and showed what he was capable of.

In 2012, the Nationals made it known that they would be monitoring Strasburg’s innings. He went on to be an All-Star that year, going 15-6 with 197 strikeouts. It could have been a lot more, but Washington shut him down on September 12, including the playoffs, where the Nats were eliminated in the Divisional Round. Strasburg had a decent 2013 (8-9, 191 SO, 3.00 ERA) and 2014, he was ninth in Cy Young voting and led the National League in strikeouts with 242.

Strasburg continued to show why he was worth the investment, and he was an All-Star again in 2016 and 2017, with the latter being the better season. He led the NL in FIP (2.72), had a career-low ERA (2.52), and was third in Cy Young voting. After another solid season, Strasburg went 18-6, fanned 251 batters, and was fifth in Cy Young balloting. Even better, Strasburg led the Nationals to their first World Series win, going 5-0 in the playoffs, including two wins in the Fall Classic, where he was named the World Series MVP. He signed what was then the largest contract for a pitcher (7 years/$245 million), but disaster was about to strike.

Strasburg succumbed to a nerve issue in his pitching hand that held him to only three batters in 2020. Diagnosed with thoracic outlet syndrome, Strasburg managed only 21.2 innings in 2021. It was even worse for Strasburg, who had to be shut down after one game, and he never pitched again.

As promising as his talents were, Strasburg was a hell of a talent when he was healthy, but sometimes it is not meant to be.

When Stephen Strasburg was selected first overall out of San Diego State in 2009, he arrived with a level of hype unmatched by any pitching prospect in the modern era. His highly anticipated 14-strikeout major league debut in 2010 solidified that mythos, but the intense spotlight quickly shifted toward organizational caution. Following his recovery from Tommy John surgery, the front office famously instituted a strict innings limit that shut him down prior to the 2012 postseason. While that decision ignited fierce national debate, the meticulous, long-term preservation of their prized ace ultimately paved the way for an unforgettable era of championship contention.

The careful workload management produced spectacular front-line rewards, transforming Strasburg into a dominant, high-leverage force atop the rotation. Weaponizing an explosive four-seamer, a devastating 12-to-6 curveball, and a heavy, diving changeup, he earned three All-Star selections and recorded five 15-win campaigns for Washington.

Returning to the mound in 2013 with the training wheels completely off, Strasburg silenced doubts about his durability by establishing himself as a true workhorse. He eclipsed the 180-innings mark for the first time, racking up 191 strikeouts and throwing his first career complete-game shutout, proving his elite arsenal remained intact post-surgery.

In 2017, he achieved a top-tier regular-season performance, posting an impressive 15–4 record with a 2.52 ERA. During that summer, he set a franchise record by recording 34 consecutive scoreless innings, led the National League with a strong 2.72 FIP, and finished as the runner-up for the NL Cy Young Award behind teammate Max Scherzer. His reputation for performing in high-stakes games was reinforced in October when he pitched seven outstanding, scoreless innings with 12 strikeouts in a crucial Game 4 of the NLDS against Chicago, despite battling illness.

That steady escalation culminated in a legendary, unforgettable 2019 masterpiece. Strasburg commanded the league with a career-high 18 wins, logged 209 innings with 251 strikeouts, and then orchestrated one of the most dominant individual postseasons in baseball history. With the Nationals facing elimination multiple times, Strasburg became the franchise's savior. He went an unblemished 5–0 with a microscopic 1.98 ERA over 36.1 postseason innings. His defining moment came in Game 6 of the World Series against Houston, where he gritted out 8.1 magnificent frames under maximum pressure to force a Game 7. Winning the World Series MVP trophy, he became the first player in modern baseball history to log five pitching wins in a single postseason without a loss, delivering Washington its coveted world championship.

Following that global triumph, Strasburg signed a massive seven-year, $245 million extension to remain a lifelong National. Tragically, the deal immediately turned into a catastrophic anchor for the franchise. The tremendous physical toll of his high-velocity mechanics caught up to him almost instantly, as he was diagnosed with severe, chronic nerve damage from thoracic outlet syndrome.

Over the remaining four years of his career, Strasburg made just eight painful, ineffective appearances, totaling only 31.1 innings on the mound after signing the contract. Because the $245 million was fully guaranteed, the massive luxury-tax hit severely hampered the front office’s ability to rebuild or pursue premium free agents, crippling the organization's financial flexibility as they tumbled into the basement of the NL East.

Despite an arduous, multi-year rehabilitation process that included the surgical removal of a rib and neck muscles, his body simply refused to cooperate. Realizing he could no longer perform at the major league level, Strasburg officially closed his playing chapter and announced his retirement from baseball in April 2024.

Strasburg made 247 starts, posting a 113–62 record with a 3.24 ERA, 1.10 WHIP, pitching 1,470 innings, and striking out 1,723 batters.