Being drafted first overall in the MLB draft certainly brings high expectations for someone. They are expected to live up to their draft status as number one. Some exceed expectations and become a Hall of Fame caliber talents, like Chipper Jones, Harold Baines, Joe Mauer, Alex Rodriguez and Ken Griffey Jr. Others, while not reaching that peak, still have a more than respectable career, a la Darin Erstad, Adrian Gonzalez, Rick Monday and BJ Surhoff. And others, such as Brein Taylor and Matt Bush, don’t live up to the status to say the least.
Stephen Strasburg was almost certainly aware of the high expectations regarding his future. Already having a bronze medal in the closet from the 2008 Summer Olympics, Strasburg was ready to make his mark on the MLB and he certainly did. On June 8, 2010, affectionately called Strasmas by ESPN, he made his debut. Strasburg went 7 innings and struck out 14 Pirates with Ivan Rodriguez behind the dish. The hype machine was on. Strasburg was going to win every Cy Young for the next decade and break every record known to man.
Well, at least until his elbow blew out. Strasburg had an inflamed right shoulder in July, not even a month after his debut, and spent some time on the disabled list. August came, and he eventually needed Tommy John surgery. He was shelved, and the Strasburg machine was placed on pause until he came back at the end of 2011. The next year Strasburg was available for the whole year, so we could all see him perform magical feats of pitching throughout a pennant race.
We dropped the asteriks. Until September. Strasburg was shut down at the end of the season as not to get hurt as he came back from surgery. He was replaced by the unforgettable John Lannan, 2 time opening day starter and the best #31 in Nationals history (until Max Scherzer). Strasburg sat on the Physically Unable to Perform list, watching the Nationals lose in the NLDS.
The next few years resulted in a rise of typical Strasburg seasons; above average and some miscellaneous injuries every season. He led the league in strikeouts in 2014, and FIP and HR/9 in 2017. Strasburg signed an extension at the start of the 2016 season, with the 2017 season resulting in his best season, coming in third for the National League Cy Young award voting behind Clayton Kershaw and winning teammate Max Scherzer.
Strasburg, by most metrics, has had an amazing career. A 3 time All Star, Silver Slugger, and a couple top finishes for the Cy Young. But, according to some, he has not. He didn’t live up to his original hype, and never delivered in the playoffs. Although he has a 0.80 ERA in the 2014 and 2017 NLDSes, the Nationals could not manage to win either series. A super hyped prospect failed to deliver in the playoffs for the Nationals. Sound familiar?
In the end, however, we must disregard his draft status and look at his career objectively. Strasburg has had an amazing career, making the Nationals relevant for so many years, and more recently pairing with Max Scherzer at the top of the rotation for years. Strasburg has been, in all regards, an amazing pitcher and should be recognized as such rather than a disappointment due to not striking out 15 batters a game.
May your pennants fly forever.
-Prentiss
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