Although Lackey’s professional life is private, on June 9, 2009, her husband Stephen Strasburg was chosen first overall in the Major League Baseball draft. Strasburg agreed to a four-year, $15.1 million deal with the Washington Nationals. Before the 2010 season, Baseball America ranked Strasburg as the top pitching prospect in the league.
In six innings of work, he struck out six batters while giving up just one hit and one walk. 13,766 spectators showed up for that game, which is the highest turnout in Syracuse baseball history. Strasburg was a pitcher on the 2010 Topps Major League Rookie All-Star Team. His #37 jersey was the most worn in baseball for June. Strasburg underwent Tommy John surgery after suffering an injury to his ulnar collateral ligament.
In April 2012, Stephen Strasburg was named National League Pitcher of the Month. The season’s first pitcher to record 100 strikeouts in Strasburg. He participated in his first All-Star Game. In 2012, Strasburg had a record of 15-6, a 3.16 ERA, a 1.15 WHIP, and 197 strikeouts. He pitched into the eighth inning for the first time in his big league career. Strasburg came in tenth place for the Cy Young award.
With the Nationals, Strasburg reached a seven-year, $175 million contract agreement. He was the first Native American to sign a contract that had an opt-out clause. A career-high 15 hitters were retired by Strasburg in a 3-0 victory over the San Diego Padres. On April 21, 2019, Stephen Strasburg surpassed his previous career high for innings pitched by a Washington Nationals pitcher.
On July 19, he hit a 420-foot home shot against the Atlanta Braves, scoring three runs. In 2019, Strasburg had a 3.32 ERA and an 18-6 record. He was named a co-winner of the Babe Ruth Award for being the overall postseason MVP. In the final four years of his deal, Strasburg opted out.
