Stephen Strasburg stops rehab, stays shut down

Stephen Strasburg stays shut down from all baseball actions amid a report that mentioned the Washington Nationals pitcher’s profession may very well be in jeopardy over nerve injury, supervisor Dave Martinez mentioned Sunday. 

The 34-year-old hasn’t pitched in a sport since final June and has handled problems from thoracic outlet syndrome since 2021. The Washington Post reported over the weekend that Strasburg stopped all bodily exercise greater than a month in the past — rising doubt over whether or not the previous World Series MVP will ever pitch once more. Strasburg, the paper reported, has “severe nerve damage” and plans to relaxation in hopes to handle the difficulty.

“Everything is still the same,” Martinez mentioned. “He’s shut down right now from baseball activity and I know he’s working hard. I can’t say exactly what the outcome is going to be. I really can’t. But I know it’s been frustrating for him. … I wish Stephen the best, no matter what happens. I just want him to get healthy.”

Staying wholesome has been a problem for Strasburg all through his profession. But his issues began to worsen starting in 2020, not lengthy after he signed a seven-year, $245 million contract to stay with Washington. That yr, Strasburg underwent season-ending carpel tunnel surgical procedure — earlier than ultimately needing a process to deal with thoracic outlet syndrome. That surgical procedure, the Post reported, required docs to take away a rib and two muscle tissues from Strasburg’s neck. 

Strasburg has pitched simply 31⅓ innings since signing his mega-deal. According to the Post, the Nationals didn’t buy incapacity insurance coverage for Strasburg’s contract due to the excessive premiums that will have doubtless been related to the coverage given the pitcher’s intensive harm historical past and age.

Strasburg is now eligible to return off the Nationals’ 60-day harm record, however the crew has no plans to activate him. The pitcher will want clearance earlier than he makes an attempt to rehabilitate the harm additional. He stopped his earlier rehabilitation after feeling ache, tingling and numbness.