Stephen Strasburg spring training locker a sad reminder

Stephen Strasburg has a locker with the Washington Nationals in spring training.

Every player in spring training has their own locker. As Mark Zuckerman of MASNsports.com reported, that includes Strasburg. The difference is that Strasburg is never going to throw another pitch, a litany of injuries that resulted in his undergoing surgery for thoracic outlet syndrome leading to severe nerve damage.

This locker was not supposed to be there. Strasburg was set to retire due to that nerve damage, a news conference scheduled for September 9 last year. That conference and subsequent ceremony were canceled two days before it was scheduled. His retirement never happened, leaving him and his fully guaranteed contract as part of the Nationals.

The Nationals still have plans for Strasburg this spring. Everyone knows that he cannot pitch any longer. However, as Zuckerman further reported, the Nationals want Strasburg to report to spring training to mentor the younger pitchers in the organization. Instead, he remains at home in northern Virginia, just as he was last year. The team may expect him to report, but they also expected Strasburg last year. He never showed.

There is no questioning what Strasburg meant to the Nationals. The first-overall selection in the 2009 MLB Draft, he instantly became one of the top prospects in the game. Strasburg made his debut in 2010, immediately showing his top-of-the-rotation potential. He was a three-time All-Star, posting a 113-62 record with a 3.24 ERA and a 1.096 WHiP over his 1470 innings, striking out 1723 batters with 394 walks. When healthy, he was a true ace.

Strasburg also saved his best for last. He had a stellar showing in the 2019 World Series, winning both his starts. He allowed four runs on 12 hits and three walks over his 14.1 innings, striking out 14 batters as the Nationals won the only championship in franchise history. Strasburg was the World Series MVP, literally leaving everything he had on the diamond. He made just eight more appearances for a total of 31.1 innings after that World Series performance, his injuries too much to bear.

Given Strasburg's stature, there never should have been any issues with his retirement ceremony. The Nationals should have done whatever they needed to to honor a franchise great. Instead, they have a locker for Strasburg at spring training, hoping he will show up. It is a sad reminder of what could have been and where he is - back home waiting for the Nationals to do the right thing. Both sides may be waiting for a long time.