Report: Nationals pitcher Stephen Strasburg plans to retire

Stephen Strasburg plans to call it a career.

The Washington Nationals pitcher — the former World Series MVP who helped bring a championship to the  District before the game was taken away from him by injuries — will announce his retirement at a press conference early next month, according to a report. The Washington Post reported Thursday that the Nationals have scheduled the presser Sept. 9 for the 35-year-old to make the announcement. 

Strasburg has not played baseball since June 2022. He has been sidelined because of complications from thoracic outlet syndrome — a rare condition that required doctors to remove the pitcher’s rib and two neck muscles. The injury, which caused nerve damage, has largely limited Strasburg to just 31 1/3 innings since signing a seven-year, $245 million contract in December 2019.

Back then, Strasburg’s contract was seen as a major win for the Nationals — the prodigal son who decided to stay home. The Nationals drafted Strasburg first overall in 2009, starting a career that arrived with an electric debut and featured a dominant pitcher who was often sidelined by injuries.

Strasburg’s retirement comes as a surprise in part because he still has three years left on his contract. It is unknown if the Nationals and the pitcher reached a settlement for the money left on his deal worth $35 million annually.