It feels like just yesterday that Washington Nationals fans craved the debut of Stephen Strasburg, the then top prospect. The organization needed any spark it could get at that time, so there was pressure on him right from the beginning to live up to those expectations.
On that occasion, he delivered in the most spectacular way. The right-hander mowed down the Pittsburgh Pirates like they weren’t even in the batter’s box, striking out 14 hitters and claiming the win in his debut.
The weight of the franchise was on his shoulders and he was the ace of the staff for the first five years of his career when healthy.