Stephen Strasburg facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Stephen Strasburg |
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Strasburg with the Washington Nationals in 2020
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| Pitcher | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Born: July 20, 1988 San Diego, California, U.S. |
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| debut | ||||||||||||||||||||
| June 8, 2010, for the Washington Nationals | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Last appearance | ||||||||||||||||||||
| June 9, 2022, for the Washington Nationals | ||||||||||||||||||||
| MLB statistics | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Win–loss record | 113–62 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Earned run average | 3.24 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Strikeouts | 1,723 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Teams | ||||||||||||||||||||
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| Career highlights and awards | ||||||||||||||||||||
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Stephen James Strasburg (born July 20, 1988) is an American former professional baseball pitcher. He played his entire 13-year career in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Washington Nationals. He was a three-time All-Star and helped the Nationals win the 2019 World Series.
Strasburg was a very talented high school player. He played college baseball for the San Diego State Aztecs. There, he became one of the best college pitchers in the country. He also played for the United States national baseball team in the 2008 Summer Olympics, where he won a bronze medal.
Many experts called Strasburg the "most-hyped pick in draft history." The Washington Nationals chose him as the first overall pick in the 2009 MLB draft. He made an amazing debut in June 2010, setting a team record with 14 strikeouts.
Later in his career, Strasburg had a serious elbow injury that needed Tommy John surgery. He worked hard to recover and returned to play. In 2019, he helped the Nationals win the World Series and was named the World Series MVP. After the 2019 season, he signed a big contract with the Nationals. However, injuries continued to affect his career, and he retired from baseball in April 2024.
Contents
Early Life and Baseball Start
Stephen Strasburg was born in San Diego, California. His dad was a real estate developer, and his mom was a dietician. He grew up cheering for the San Diego Padres.
Strasburg often says his grandmother helped him a lot with baseball when he was a kid. She would play catch with him and even practice pitching. He sees her as one of his biggest inspirations.
He went to West Hills High School in Santee, California. At first, he struggled on the school's baseball team. But in his senior year, he started to shine. He had a game where he struck out 12 batters and allowed only one hit. This game caught the attention of scouts.
College Baseball Journey
Strasburg wanted to go to Stanford University but was not accepted. He chose to attend San Diego State University, where his parents had gone. He played college baseball for the San Diego State Aztecs. His coach was the famous Baseball Hall of Fame player Tony Gwynn.
When he first arrived, Strasburg was not in great shape. His coach even gave him the nickname "Slothburg." But Strasburg worked very hard to get fit and improve his mental toughness. He lost 30 pounds and became a much stronger player.
In his first year, Strasburg was a relief pitcher, helping the team by pitching for short periods. He later became the team's closer, pitching in the final innings to secure wins. In 2007, he was named one of the best relief pitchers in his summer league.
In 2008, Strasburg became a full-time starting pitcher. He had an amazing season, winning 8 games and striking out 134 batters. In one game, he set a conference record by striking out 23 batters. His fastball also became much faster, reaching 100 miles per hour.
His junior year in 2009 was even better. He won 13 games and struck out 195 batters. He even threw his first no-hitter, where no opposing player got a hit. He won several awards, including the Dick Howser Trophy, for being the best college pitcher.
Playing for Team USA
Strasburg was chosen to play for the United States national baseball team in 2008. He helped the team win the gold medal at the 2008 World University Baseball Championship.
He was also the only college player on the U.S. team for the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing. In his first Olympic start, he allowed only one hit over seven innings. The U.S. team won the bronze medal at the Olympics.
Professional Baseball Career
Drafted by the Nationals
On June 9, 2009, the Washington Nationals picked Strasburg as the first overall player in the MLB draft. On August 17, 2009, he signed a record-breaking four-year, $15.1 million contract with the Nationals. This was the largest contract ever for a drafted player at that time.
Strasburg started his professional career in the minor leagues. Before the 2010 season, Baseball America called him the top pitching prospect. There was huge excitement around him. When he made his debut for the Harrisburg Senators, about 70 media members were there. His games often set attendance records.
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He quickly moved up to the Syracuse Chiefs, the highest level of minor league baseball. In his first game there, he pitched six scoreless innings. That game drew the largest crowd in Syracuse baseball history. He finished his minor league career with a great record.
Major League Debut
Strasburg made his highly anticipated MLB debut on June 8, 2010, against the Pittsburgh Pirates. Many called it "the most hyped pitching debut the game has ever seen." He won the game, pitching seven innings, allowing only two runs, and striking out 14 batters. This set a new team record for strikeouts in a single game. He was the first pitcher in history to strike out at least 11 batters without walking anyone in his first pro game.
In his next two starts, he struck out 8 and 10 batters, setting a new MLB record for the most strikeouts in a pitcher's first three starts (32). His jersey became the best-selling Nationals jersey of all time in June 2010.
Dealing with Injuries
In July 2010, Strasburg had to go on the disabled list because of a shoulder injury. He returned in August, but then suffered a torn ligament in his pitching elbow. This injury required Tommy John surgery, which meant he would need 12 to 18 months to recover.
He began his comeback in August 2011, pitching in minor league rehab games. He returned to the Nationals in September 2011, pitching 24 innings that year.
Return to Form and Success
The 2012 season marked a successful return for Strasburg. He was named the National League Pitcher of the Month in April. He also hit his first career home run in May. In July, he was chosen for his first All-Star Game.
To protect his arm after surgery, the Nationals decided to limit the number of innings Strasburg pitched in 2012. This decision caused a lot of discussion among fans and experts. He finished the season with 15 wins and 197 strikeouts. He also won a Silver Slugger Award for his hitting.
In 2013, Strasburg pitched his first complete game, a 6–0 shutout against the Philadelphia Phillies. He continued to be a strong pitcher for the Nationals.
In 2014, he led the National League in strikeouts with 242, a career high. Injuries limited his playing time in 2015.
Big Contract and More Injuries
In 2016, Strasburg signed a large 7-year, $175 million contract extension with the Nationals. He started the season with an amazing 12–0 record, becoming the first pitcher since 1912 to do so. However, he later went on the disabled list again due to elbow soreness.
In 2017, Strasburg set a Nationals franchise record by pitching 34 consecutive innings without allowing a run. He finished the season with 15 wins and a low earned run average.
2019 World Series Champion
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The 2019 season was a highlight of Strasburg's career. He became the Nationals' all-time leader in innings pitched. He also threw an "immaculate" inning, striking out three batters on nine pitches. He had a career-high 18 wins, leading the National League.
In the 2019 playoffs, Strasburg was outstanding. He helped the Nationals win the Wild Card Game and the 2019 National League Division Series. In the 2019 World Series, he pitched incredibly well, helping the Nationals defeat the Houston Astros. He was named the World Series MVP for his excellent performance. He tied an MLB record for most wins in a single postseason (five) without any losses.
After the World Series win, Strasburg signed another big contract with the Nationals, a seven-year, $245 million deal.
Final Seasons and Retirement
After signing his new contract, Strasburg faced more injury challenges. In the shortened 2020 season, he only made two appearances due to a nerve issue in his pitching hand.
In 2021, he made only five starts before needing surgery for a condition called neurogenic thoracic outlet syndrome. This surgery ended his 2021 season.
In 2022, he made just one start before returning to the injured list with a rib injury. He missed the rest of that season.
By 2023, Strasburg was still dealing with severe nerve damage. He had more surgeries to try and fix the problem.
Stephen Strasburg officially retired from professional baseball on April 6, 2024. Due to his injuries, he pitched only 31.1 innings for the Nationals after signing his 2019 contract. He finished his MLB career with 113 wins and 62 losses, and a 3.24 earned run average.
Pitching Style
How He Pitched
Strasburg used five main pitches:
- A four-seam fastball (his main pitch), which was very fast, often between 95-97 miles per hour. Early in his career, it reached 100 mph.
- A two-seam fastball, a bit slower, around 94-95 mph.
- A curveball (which he called a "slurve"), around 80-83 mph.
- A changeup, around 87-90 mph.
- A slider-cutter, which moved sideways, around 87-91 mph.
He used all his pitches against left-handed batters. Against right-handed batters, he mostly used his fastballs and curveball. Even after his Tommy John surgery, his fastball remained very fast.
Strasburg was known for striking out many batters. He had a high "strikeout rate," meaning he got a lot of batters to swing and miss. He said he didn't try to strike out everyone, but it just happened because his pitches were so good.
His Pitching Motion
Early in his career, some experts worried about Strasburg's pitching motion. They thought the way he threw put a lot of stress on his arm, which could lead to injuries. Sadly, he did experience elbow and shoulder problems.
In 2014, Strasburg made a small change to his pitching mechanics. He adjusted how he placed his back foot on the pitching mound. He said this change helped him with his balance and timing, making his pitching motion feel better.
Personal Life
Stephen Strasburg married Rachel Lackey on January 9, 2010. They met when they were students at San Diego State University. They have three daughters. The Strasburg family moved to Washington, D.C. in 2018, living close to Nationals Park. In 2024, they moved back to San Diego.
Images for kids
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Strasburg pitching in his MLB debut
See also
In Spanish: Stephen Strasburg para niños
