Stephen James Strasburg (pron.: /E?strE?E?zbE?rE!/; born July 20, 1988) is a right-handed baseball pitcher for theWashington Nationals of Major League Baseball (MLB). Strasburg was selected by Washington with the first pickin the 2009 MLB Draft, and he made his MLB debut with the Nationals in 2010.

A talented but unpolished high school baseball player atWest Hills High School, Strasburg played college baseballfor the San Diego State Aztecs. There, he became one of the best collegiate pitchers in the country. He pitched for the United States national baseball team at the 2008 Summer Olympics, winning the bronze medal. Two years later, Strasburg was called the "most-hyped pick in draft history" by ESPN^[1] and the "most hyped and closely watched pitching prospect in the history of baseball" bySports Illustrated.^[2] Strasburg's major league debut on June 8, 2010, produced a franchise-record 14 strikeouts.

Several months into his major league career, Strasburg tore a ligament in his pitching elbow. The injury requiredTommy John surgery and a year of rehabilitation. He rejoined the Nationals on September 6, 2011, but was only able to pitch 24 innings that year. His 2012 season marked a successful return to form; Strasburg was selected to play in the 2012 MLB All-Star Game.^[3]