Such was the case when Stephen Strasburg, perhaps the most heralded pitching phenom in a generation, strode to the mound for the first time in Washington, D.C. In a performance for the ages, the right-hander electrified an overflow crowd in the nation’s capital, striking out fourteen batters, one shy of the record for a major-league debut. Overnight Strasburg had seemingly placed himself along such epic fireballers as Bob Feller, Sandy Koufax, and Nolan Ryan. The accolades—“14-K gold,” “National Treasure,” and “Merry Strasmas”—rained down from all corners. The game was instantly heralded as one of greatest moments in Washington sports history. But before we knew it, the exhilarating ride was over—or at least seriously derailed. With five weeks left in his rookie season, Strasburg headed to the sidelines with a torn ulnar collateral ligament in his pitching elbow. Whether he would ultimately be recognized as an All-Star or just another enigma with unfulfilled potential remained an open question.
