STEPHEN STRASBURG
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Stephen Strasburg: Early life, Career, Injury & Net worth

“It is the only dedication that separates the champions from the crowd.” Stephen Strasburg is the literal embodiment of this quote.

From his amazing weight loss journey to pitching in the big leagues, Stephen Strasburg has come a long way in the baseball world.

Stephen Strasburg’s journey was lined with great expectations and if he had ever lived up to the hype is a constant argument in sports bars to this day.

Strasburg pitching for the Washington Nationals.
Strasburg pitching for the Washington Nationals.

After suffering from a ligament tearing injury in his pitching elbow, he had to step back from the spotlight for a year.

He spends that period on rehabilitation after undergoing the Tommy John surgery.

Quick facts: Stephen Strasburg

Let us take a look at the baseball pitcher Stephen Strasburg’s amazing journey, starting with a quick fact check

 

Full name Stephen James Strasburg
Date of birth July 20, 1988
Age 35 Years Old
Birthplace San Diego, California, U.S.
Religion Christian
Nationality American
Ethnicity White
Education San Diego State university
Father’s name Jim Strasburg
Mother’s name Kathleen Swett Strasburg
Zodiac sign Cancer
Height 6 feet and 5 inches
Weight 95 kg
Spouse Rachel Lackey
Children Two daughters
Body Measurement Unknown
Hair color Brown
Eye color Brown
Net Worth $80 million
Position Pitcher
Current team Washington Nationals of Major League Baseball (MLB)
Nickname Strasburg
Salary $35 million
Social Media Twitter
Debut year 2009 AD
Merch Baseball Card, Worn Jersey, Signed Glossy Photo
Last Update March, 2024

Stephen Strasburg: Early life and Family

Stephen Strasburg was born to parents Jim Strasburg and Kathleen Strasburg on July 20, 1988, in San Diego, California.

He is White in terms of ethnicity and holds American citizenship. Also, he is a Christian.

His zodiac sign is cancer, and the pitcher is loyal, compassionate and overall good-natured.

Stephen’s father, Jim, was a real estate developer, and his mother, Kathleen, a dietician.

Stephen has an early interest in baseball, and since he was bigger and heavier than other kids, he moved towards the pitching mound.

His maternal grandmother played catch with him and was his first “catcher.” As a result, his grandmother became his biggest source of inspiration.

Stephen Strasburg: Body Measurement

Stephen Strasburg is 6 feet and 5 inches tall. He weighs 95 kg. He has brown hair and brown eyes, along with a healthy body and a charming smile.

Stephen Strasburg’s Personal life

Marriage life

Stephen Strasburg is a man who has always prioritized family. He married his long-term girlfriend, Rachel Lackey, in 2010.

They met at San Diego State University. He has no rumor of past affairs and continues to remains a loyal husband.

Stephen Strasburg
Stephen Strasburg with his Family

Strasburg and Lackey have two children. Both are daughters. Strasburg is a devoted father.

His family is also highly supportive of his career and raises his spirits from the front row at his games.

Relationship with Max Scherzer

Strasburg and Scherzer have been teammates for over 5 years. They both play with their own different strategies but heading to the same result of leading the Washington Nationals to victory.

Scherzer is also the reason Strasburg has extended his deal. In an interview, Strasburg said that “I don’t think we’ve seen the best of stras yet. I still think it’s in front of him.”

Relationship with Tony Gwynn

An MLB veteran Tony Gwynn was the ultimate idol for Strasburg growing up. Later, when he played the role of coach for Strasburg, a beautiful bond was born between a master and his student.

strasburg gwynn ignelzi2jpg
Strasburg with Coach Tony Gwynn.

Strasburg was devasted with the untimely death of Coach Gwynn on June 16, 2014.

Stephen Strasburg’s Education

High school career:

As a kid, Stephen Strasburg idolized his hometown, Padres, Tony Gwynn. Stephen played in lots of little and youth leagues.

Then he joined West Hills High School for schooling and went on to be a pitcher from his sophomore year in 2004 under coach Scott Hopgood’s guidance.

He played very impressively and naturally caught the eyes of college scouts. Also, Strasburg was named Athlete of the year in 2006.

However, his biggest struggle as a prep pitcher wasn’t the physical aspect but the mental aspect. He often let the competition get under his skin.

The other issue with Stephen was his weight. After practice each day, he would always eat at the taco joint nearby.

By the end of junior year, he weighed 250 pounds, making it hard for him to stand still throughout the game without hurting his knees.

College career:

For the college, Stephen’s number one choice was Stanford. It was all he ever dreamt of, but he got rejected.

His other choices were Harvard, Yale, Arizona State and UNLV. But because of his overweight issues and poor work ethic, he didn’t get accepted into any of them.

Then he decided to follow his parent’s footsteps and settle for something closer to home, the San Diego state university, which proved to be the right choice because Tony Gwynn, his idol, led the college baseball team.

College baseball wasn’t easy for Stephen, who had a reputation for being lazy. As a result, he was nicknamed “Slothburg.” This made college even harder for an overweight Stephen as he struggled to stay in the dorm.

Stephen moved out of the dorm and wondered if he should quit school and get a job at Lowe’s.

Despite all criticism, Stephen didn’t give up; instead, he worked out for the first time in his life and loose around 20 pounds and got his fastball up high into the fast 90s.

Because of his determination, his sophomore year turned out to be extremely fruitful for him. He went 8-3 with a 1.58 ERA and 134 strikeouts.

Strasburg went on to be the only collegiate player selected for the United States national team for the summer Olympics in Beijing 2008, where he gained a bronze medal.

He also went on to play many international games, such as the World University Baseball Championship, where the United States won the gold medal.

Stephen Strasburg’s Professional career

Debut career

At the end of his junior year, Stephen was ready to get drafted and retained agent Scott Boras’s services. Washington had an eye out for Stephen and made sure they did everything to get him.

As a result, Stephen signed a $15.1 million record-breaking deal with the Washington Nationals. This was the largest bonus ever paid to a draftee.

Stephen signed the contract minutes away before leaving for college for his senior year.

Strasburg was set to play in the minor leagues making his debut on October 16, 2009, starting for Phoenix Desert Dogs in the Arizona Fall League.

Stephen was also said to perform in the league’s Rising Star showcase but backed out due to a minor neck injury.

But he won the title of Pitcher of the week and gained four wins on the Arizona Fall League. He suffered from a knee injury and couldn’t participate in the AFL. 

Major leagues career

When 2010 came around, Strasburg was already named the top pitching prospect to dive into dozens of minor leagues.

Strasburg’s debut in the major league in April of 2010 was the most overhyped baseball happenings.

Washington had drafted him against Pittsburgh Pirates. Strasburg won his debut, pitching in seven innings, allowing two runs and no walks and 14 strikeouts, setting the team with a new strikeout record.

He also became the first debut pitcher to strikeout eleven batters without issuing any walks.

In his second and third major league, Strasburg struck out another eight and ten batters, respectively. He recorded the most strikeouts in a pitcher’s first three leagues, starting with 32.

However, Washington put him on the Disabled List after straining his shoulder in July 2010.

But, he made a return to the field in August but was removed after his third game as he has a torn ulnar collateral ligament and had to go through Tommy John surgery followed by a year of rehabilitation.

The Nationals gave Stephen six starts in minor leagues to check if he was ready to return to the major leagues.  He returned to the major leagues against Los Angeles Dodgers on September 6.

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Post-injury career

Due to his surgery in 2011, the Nationals decided to limit the innings throw in the 2012 season.

The doctor who operated on Stephen’s elbow gave a green light for the decisions, and his innings were limited to somewhere between 160- 180.

In April of 2012, Strasburg landed 34 strikeouts and did not give up on the home run. He was titled Pitcher of the month by NL.

His 2012 season ended in September with 197 strikeouts, 159 1/3 innings with a 3.16 ERA.

Strasburg ended the 2013 season with a 3.00 ERA, 191 strikeouts in 183 innings pitched. In the 2015 season, he brought in 127 1/3 innings with a 3.46 ERA.

In 2016 Strasburg signed an extended contract with the Washington Nationals with a $175 million extension. His stats in 2018 was 10-7 with a 3.74 ERA in which he had 156 strikeouts in 130 innings.

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Stephen Strasburg’s Net worth and Salary

His net worth is about $80 million, while he makes $35 million as an annual salary. He is one of the most successful athletes of all time.

He has signed a $245 million deal with the Nationals, and the entire contract is to be paid off by 2027.

Stephen Strasburg’s  Achievements

  1. Baseball America College of the Year 2009
  2.  Dick Howser Trophy 2009
  3. Golden Spikes Award 2009
  4. 2010 Player of the week award (April)
  5. 2012 The silver slugger award (National league)
  6. 2015 Player of the week
  7. 2016 Pitcher of the month (July)
  8. 2017 Pitcher of the month (September)
  9. Hickok Belt 2019
  10.  Pitcher of the month (July) 2019
  11. 2019 World Series Most Valuable Player Award

Stephen Strasburg: Pitching style

Stephen Strasburg hasn’t mastered his mechanics but still manages to deliver the ball in a loose, whipping motion. His release point is low and which accounts for great action on his Two-seamer and Four-seamer.

He throws a mix of pitches, including the curveball, a changeup and a “slider-cutter.” He often observes his opponent and decides what to pitch in.

https://www.instagram.com/p/B4a5BXXlvWD/

 

Despite the criticism, Stephen Strasburg has had an exceptional career in the baseball world.

Stephen has never given up due to his injury, and he constantly amazes the fans with his pitches. He is truly a remarkable pitcher. Strasburg has created a name and legacy for himself with so much still to come.

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FAQs

How old is Stephen Strasburg?

Stephen Strasburg is 32 years old.

What is Stephen Strasburg’s salary?

Stephen’s annual salary is $35 million as of 2020.

Is Stephen Strasburg married?

Yes, Stephen is married to his long-time girlfriend Rachel Lackey.

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