Jun 9, 2022; Miami, Florida, USA; Washington Nationals starting pitcher Stephen Strasburg (37) delivers a pitch during the first inning against the Miami Marlins at loanDepot Park. Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-USA TODAY Sports
San Diego, California – San Diego is welcoming one of its own back to The Mesa. Former Washington Nationals ace and 2019 World Series MVP Stephen Strasburg has joined San Diego State University’s baseball program as a special assistant to head coach Kevin Vance, the school announced Monday.
For local baseball fans, this move feels like a full-circle moment — a hometown hero returning to the diamond where it all began. Strasburg, a West Hills High graduate and proud San Diegan, pitched for the Aztecs from 2007 to 2009 under the late Tony Gwynn, the Hall of Fame Padres outfielder who shaped generations of players at SDSU.
Now, 15 years after he left campus as one of the most dominant college pitchers ever, Strasburg is coming home to help guide the next generation.
According to the program, Strasburg will “lend his support to all aspects of the Aztec baseball program, including fundraising and special events, along with alumni and donor relations.” He’ll also serve as a team mentor, working directly with players to “improve the student-athlete experience” and assist in pitching development.
At 37, Strasburg’s playing career ended earlier than anyone expected, cut short by a string of injuries that followed one of the most dominant runs in modern baseball. Over 13 seasons with the Washington Nationals, he was a three-time All-Star, posted a 113–62 record, and struck out 1,723 batters across 247 starts. His defining moment came in 2019, when he went 5–0 in the postseason and earned World Series MVP honors, cementing his place in D.C. sports history.
Before the fame and the millions, Strasburg was just another Aztec on the rise — a power pitcher who went from throwing in the low 80s to topping 100 mph under Gwynn’s watch. In 2009, he won both the Golden Spikes Award and the Dick Howser Trophy, given to the nation’s top collegiate player, before being selected first overall by the Nationals in the MLB Draft.
He’s also set to be inducted into the 2025 College Baseball Hall of Fame, a fitting honor for a player many still consider the best college pitcher ever.
Head coach Kevin Vance called the hire both emotional and inspiring for the program: “Stephen Strasburg is arguably the best pitcher in college baseball history, but what makes this announcement so special is how much he cares about this program, this city, and giving back to the game. He’s a proud Aztec and San Diegan, and he’s never forgotten his roots.”
For San Diego baseball fans, Strasburg’s return is more than nostalgia. It’s a reminder of the city’s rich baseball lineage — from Tony Gwynn’s legacy to the Padres’ current stars — and of the lasting impact that begins right here on The Mesa.
