Despite the odds against them last season, no one expected the Arizona Diamondbacks to make it to the World Series. And once again this year, they are not favored by Vegas to make it back. But pitcher Zac Gallen doesn’t pay attention to those predictions, embracing the underdog role once again in 2024.
On the other side of the country, Washington Nationals’ pitcher Stephen Strasburg officially retired this past weekend. After a career plagued by injuries, Strasburg decided to call it quits after not having pitched since June 2022. Despite his retirement, Strasburg will still receive the remaining $105 million from his original $245 million contract, with the Nationals on the hook for the entirety of the uninsured deal.
Strasburg, who was named MVP of the 2019 World Series after leading Washington to victory over Houston Astros in seven games, had a successful career that included being named Rookie of the Year in 2010 and a Cy Young Award in 2016. However, injuries prevented him from fully returning to form and he never fully recovered from surgery for thoracic outlet syndrome in 2021. Despite occasional visits to the Nationals’ facilities, Strasburg did not report to spring training in either 2023 or 2024, leaving his future with the team uncertain.
As Strasburg’s career comes to an end, it remains to be seen if the Nationals will hold a retirement ceremony for the pitcher who played a crucial role in their 2019 World Series win. Whether celebrated or quietly acknowledged, Strasburg’s career will forever be marked by his talent on the mound and unfortunate injury setbacks.
