Washington Nationals, Stephen Strasburg | featured news

When Stephen Strasburg hopped down the Washington Nationals dugout steps after the third inning Sunday afternoon, he had finally tapped the full extent of his powers. He had put his ragged, 31-pitch first inning behind him by making a crucial adjustment. He had plowed through six consecutive Houston Astros.

Stephen Strasburg has a torn elbow ligament, likely bringing his promising rookie season to an abrupt end. Washington Nationals general manager Mike Rizzo said Friday an MRI on the right elbow revealed a ''significant tear.'' Strasburg will travel to the West Coast for a second opinion, but Rizzo anticipates the 22-year-old right-hander will need the operation that requires 12 to 18 months of rehabilitation.

Stephen Strasburg’s major league career started with a 97 mph fastball — and it didn’t take long for baseball’s newest wunderkind to start piling up strikeouts.