Best Version Of Himself

A decade after being hailed as the best draft prospect ever, Stephen Strasburg has learned to put things in perspective

- Kyle Glaser

How does one live up to impossible expectations? When no matter how well you do, there is a sense you should have done even better.

That’s the challenge Stephen Strasburg has faced for a decade.

But 10 years since his anointment as the greatest draft prospect ever, Strasburg is at peace with the career he’s had.

“I think it’s pretty obvious that the expectations that people had for me from early on were a little insane,” Strasburg said. “And I think you just become more comfortable with yourself, more comfortable with the results, and you set yourself to your own standards. Those are always going to be more important than what others think you should be doing.”

It’s been 10 years since the Nationals drafted Strasburg first overall in 2009 out of San Diego State. He was supposed to be a perennial Cy Young Award contender, the ace of aces, a modern-day Tom Seaver or Roger Clemens.

Strasburg, now 31, has been none of those things. And yet, to label him a disappointment would not be quite correct, either.

As the 2010s come to a close, Strasburg has been one of the best pitchers of the decade. Among starters with at least 1,000 innings, he ranks among the top 10 with a 3.17 ERA, a 1.09 WHIP, 10.6 strikeouts per nine innings and a .222 opponent average. He is a three-time all-star, owns a strikeout title in 2014 and led the National League in wins and innings this season.

Strasburg has been especially dominant when the stakes are highest, delivering a 1.34 ERA over 47 innings in his first eight postseason appearances.