Nationals star pitcher reportedly has nerve damage, putting career in jeopardy

Washington Nationals pitcher Stephen Strasburg does not appear close to a return to the mound. Even worse, he could have his entire career in jeopardy as he deals with "severe nerve damage," according to a Saturday report from the Washington Post.

Strasburg has not pitched since last June and appeared in only eight games since the end of the 2019 season. 

He underwent surgery to deal with thoracic outlet syndrome and has been trying to rehab ever since. 

He did not take part in spring training and was placed on the 60-day IL on Opening Day. Even though he would now be eligible to come off that list, there is no sign he is close to that. 

When Strasburg was drafted by the Nationals with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2009 MLB Draft, he was hyped to be one of the best pitching prospects of this era and a franchise-altering pitcher. When healthy, he has come close to matching that hype over the past 14 years. His problem is that he has not always been healthy.

Injuries sidetracked his career early on and might bring it to a premature end.

In the middle of those bookends, however, was a dominant career that saw him emerge as one of the best pitchers in the National League. It never produced a Cy Young Award, but he did finish in the top 10 three times. He also appeared in three All-Star Games.

The absolute peak of his career came during the 2019 season when he led the National League in wins (18) and innings pitched (209) while posting 3.32 ERA in 33 starts. He followed that performance with a dominant postseason showing that earned him World Series MVP honors as the Nationals won their first championship. In 36.1 innings that postseason, he recorded a 1.99 ERA with 47 strikeouts and only four walks. 

If this really is the end for Strasburg's career you have to consider it a success if you are the Nationals. The injuries might have prevented him from ever reaching his full potential, but he was still outstanding for a solid decade and helped produce a championship. That is all you can ask for with the No. 1 overall pick in any draft class.