(Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
From 2010 to 2019, Washington Nationals ace Stephen Strasburg was one of the best pitchers in baseball.
In 2020, shortly after signing a mammoth contract, his never-ending suffering with injuries started.
He spent some time on the injured list that year with a nerve issue in his pitching hand, and the following season saw him undergo surgery to alleviate neurogenic thoracic outlet syndrome.
His 2022 and 2023 campaigns have also been lost with injuries related to the syndrome, and he got news in June that he has severe nerve damage.
The player, mercifully, has reportedly decided to retire, according to the Washington Post.
Reactions to the news on Twitter were, as you would expect, aplenty.
What a career for Stephen Strasburg
3× All-Star
2019 World Series champion
World Series MVP
2019 Babe Ruth Award
2019 All-MLB First Team pic.twitter.com/vZ6Vj0JeXR
— FOX Sports: MLB (@MLBONFOX) August 24, 2023
As MLB on FOX tweeted, his on-field achievements were considerable, including a masterful performance in the 2019 World Series that earned him the MVP award.
He finished in the top five in the NL Cy Young voting in 2017 and 2019 and was a three-time All-Star.
Many people say he sacrificed his long-term health by pitching 36 innings in a deep postseason run in 2019, in addition to 209 regular-season innings.
Be that as it may, Nationals fans will remember him fondly, and he has the respect and admiration from thousands of MLB fans all over the world.
All stellar players are fun to watch, but there are only one or two FAVORITES in a decade #StephenStrasburg was my FAVORITE! I connected with his introversion, wanting the work and stats speak for themselves. @Nationals Stras will be missed on the field
— Katie Prepgirl (@KDPrep13) August 24, 2023
I remember when Stephen Strasburg had his first start. Sad to see his career end so early, but happy that he helped Washington win their first title (since 1924)
— Andrew Zimmel (@Andrew_Zimmel) August 24, 2023
The No. 1 pick of the 2009 MLB Draft, Strasburg was already dominating MLB hitters a year later.
He was to pitching what Bryce Harper was to hitting for the Nationals: a true, young star.
shoutout to the homie Stephen Strasburg for being just the absolute nicest dude. so glad I had a chance to meet him at the Nats fan fest back in the day & I’m lucky to say my first Nats game was attending his debut.
I’M IN A GLASS CASE OF EMOTION. pic.twitter.com/mNXGFOOirA
— 𝙃𝙚𝙧𝙢𝙨 (@HermsNFL) August 24, 2023
Fans will definitely miss him on the mound, but at least he gets a chance to finally rest that arm.
The post Fans React To Today’s Stephen Strasburg News appeared first on The Cold Wire.