Washington Nationals right-hander Stephen Strasburg is not in spring training with the team due to another injury setback, manager Dave Martinez said during a press conference on Wednesday.
Strasburg, 34, experienced the setback during a recent throwing session at Nationals Park in Washington. He reported nerve pain in his neck and shoulder, something that has bothered him in recent seasons.
Martinez said there is no timetable for the return of Strasburg, who has pitched just 31 1/3 innings in three seasons since winning World Series MVP honors in 2019 when Washington beat the Houston Astros in the Fall Classic.
“He threw one bullpen, it went really well,” Martinez said in West Palm Beach, Fla. “He went to throw a second bullpen, and after the second bullpen, the next day he just didn’t rebound as he thought he would.”
Strasburg signed a seven-year, $245 million deal with the Nationals after his strong 2019 postseason and before his health issues began.
In 2020, he made two starts before undergoing carpal tunnel surgery on his wrist. Strasburg started five games in 2021 before undergoing season-ending thoracic outlet surgery and he pitched just once last season before again being shut down with rib pain.
After this latest setback, there is no telling when — or if — Strasburg will report to spring training.
“I’m not going to put any kind of timetable on when he could come, or when he could not,” Martinez said. “For right now, it’s about Stephen and trying to make sure that he’s able to come back, if he can. It’s tough. That guy’s endured a lot. I know he worked hard all winter long and was rehabbing every single day, six days a week. So, he put the time in.”
The latest setback comes with Strasburg still having four seasons remaining on his hefty contract.
“I know in his heart he wants to pitch,” Martinez said. “And I can’t wait until the day that — if he does pitch — he’s going to come back and pitch for us. I know the fans want to see him pitch again. But at this point, it’s just health-related. And it’s the same thing, it’s the nerve that’s bothering him. I know he’s going to get checked out by some doctors again, so we’ll see. But for right now, he’s not going to be with us.”
Strasburg, a three-time All-Star, has spent his entire 13-year major league career with the Nationals. He was the first overall pick in the 2009 draft out of San Diego State.
Strasburg is 113-62 with a 3.24 ERA over 247 career starts. His 1,723 strikeouts rank first in Nationals franchise history.
–Field Level Media