Stephen Strasburg is making his way back after dealing with Thoracic Outlet Syndrome.
The Washington Nationals‘ ace has started a total of seven games over the past two seasons due to bouts with injuries, but he appears to be making strides as he looks to return from his injury.
Today, Strasburg was throwing a bullpen session.
Nationals insider Mark Zuckerman was present for it and took a video of the Nats’ ace throwing.
Not only was Strasburg throwing a bullpen session, but now he is returning to a move he has not been seen using since 2017, that being, throwing from the windup as opposed to the stretch.
Strasburg throwing out of a full windup for the first time in about 5 years. pic.twitter.com/OzAhjZaMBK
— Mark Zuckerman (@MarkZuckerman) March 30, 2022
Is Strasburg Reinventing Himself?
It’s interesting that Strasburg hasn’t gone to this move in five years.
One would imagine it’s hard to constantly pitch from the stretch.
Perhaps that could have contributed to his injury struggles.
But if you’re trying to come back from an injury, it can never hurt to reinvent yourself a little, and that appears to be what Strasburg is trying to do.
And the 33-year-old right hander appears to be solid in this bullpen session.
He’s looking normal again and more like his old self, that being, the man who pitched two gems in the 2019 World Series and earned MVP honors for the Series, which Washington won for its first ever title.
We’ll see if Strasburg reinventing himself helps him get back to where he was, but by the looks of it, he seems comfortable throwing out of the windup, which is interesting to see since he hasn’t gone to that move in five years.
If Strasburg is healthy, he should be a key contributor for the Nationals in 2022.
NEXT: Nationals Manager Explains Why Juan Soto Is Out Of The Lineup