Strasburg to make season debut Thursday

MIAMI – For the first time in more than a year, Stephen Strasburg is going to pitch for the Nationals.

The veteran right-hander and 2019 World Series MVP will make his long-awaited 2022 debut Thursday night against the Marlins, having finally completed his recovery and rehab from last summer’s thoracic outlet surgery, manager Davey Martinez announced prior to tonight’s series opener.

“He’s excited. I know we’re excited to have him back,” Martinez said. “So he’ll be on the mound Thursday.”

Strasburg’s return had come into clearer focus over the last two weeks as he successfully completed three minor league rehab starts. When he tossed six scoreless innings for Triple-A Rochester on Friday, it seemed like a final step for the 33-year-old.

The only remaining hurdle was a bullpen session Monday here in Miami. Once he made it through that standard, between-starts throwing exercise with no issues, he was declared good to go.

“I said: ‘Tell me your thoughts,’ ” Martinez said. “And he told me: ‘I’m ready to pitch this week.’ So we penciled him in for Thursday.”

This will be Strasburg’s first big league start since June 1, 2021 in Atlanta, when he lasted only 1 1/3 innings before departing with shoulder discomfort. He spent the next seven weeks going through the rehab process and appeared close to pitching again, only to be shut down again with discomfort, at which point doctors determined he needed thoracic outlet surgery.

That complicated procedure has derailed more than a few pitching careers, and there was never any certainty how or when Strasburg would return. The Nationals initially hoped he’d be ready to open this season, but it became clear in spring training that wouldn’t happen. He spent extra time refining his mechanics, tried pitching out of the windup instead of the stretch for the first time in five years and finally began to feel good about the way he felt.

Signed to a seven-year, $245 million extension in December 2019, Strasburg has made only seven starts since due to multiple injuries. He’s by no means officially out of the woods now, but there have been no physical issues during this latest rehab process, and that has both club officials and the right-hander optimistic.

“I told him for what it’s worth, I’m proud of you,” Martinez said. “I know this has been a difficult time for you, but you worked your butt off to get back. Just go out there and have fun.”

Martinez said there won’t be any specific restrictions on Strasburg in Thursday’s start. He totaled 83 pitches during his six-inning start for Rochester, so he’s physically ready to make a full start.

There is a substantial difference, of course, between a Triple-A start and a major league start, and the Nationals will take that into consideration as they watch him against the Marlins.

“We’ll see how far we can take him. We’ll keep a close eye on him,” Martinez said. “But this is one of the reasons we wanted him to go through what he did: To make sure he’s fully ready. His last outing, I know he threw 83 pitches in six innings. But my biggest thing is to watch his high-leverage (situations), see how many pitches he throws each inning and then we’ll go from there.”