Stephen Strasburg not at spring training after suffering latest setback

Washington Nationals pitcher Stephen Strasburg continues to battle complications from his thoracic outlet syndrome surgery. The 2019 World Series MVP suffered yet another setback after a recent bullpen session and is not at spring training, Nationals manager Dave Martinez announced on Wednesday.

Strasburg, 34, is back in Washington, D.C. There is no timetable for him to arrive in West Palm Beach.

“He threw one bullpen [session], it went really well,” Martinez said, per Mark Zuckerman of MASN Sports. “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.”

In 2019, Stephen Strasburg had the best season of his career. He pitched a career-high 209 innings and won a career-best 18 games with a 3.32 ERA. He carried that momentum into the postseason, capturing World Series MVP en route to the Nationals’ first World Series title.

However, Strasburg has pitched in eight games over the past three seasons. He began experiencing nerve issues in 2020, leading to him getting shut down after two starts. He returned in 2021 and made five starts before getting shut down again. That is when he underwent the TOS surgery.

Strasburg returned last season but made just one start before the Nationals shut him down for the third straight year. Now, he and the team are searching for the next steps.

Strasburg accounts for $35 million on the Nationals’ payroll this year. He signed a seven-year, $245 million contract following the 2019 season. The deal runs through the 2026 season. However, the Nationals deferred $80 million to be spread over three years starting in 2027.

Strasburg’s 13-year career is filled with brilliant performances and a long list of injuries, including Tommy John surgery in 2011. The latest injury setback magnifies concerns about his future playing career.