First baseman Ryan Zimmerman, who has been Strasburg’s teammate longer than anyone else on the Nationals, said the players had come to look at Strasburg as a veteran leader.

“He doesn’t say much; when he does, you take it pretty heavy,” Zimmerman said.

A sense of stability increased during the 2016 season, which was set to be Strasburg’s final one before free agency. That May he signed a seven-year $175-million extension, the largest contract for a pitcher who had undergone Tommy John elbow surgery.

Agreeing to an extension made Strasburg a rarity among the clients of the agent Scott Boras, who prefers to test the open market for maximum leverage. But Strasburg wanted to remain in Washington, and that might be a factor this off-season when he weighs his right to exercise the first of two opt-outs in his contract. Since he signed the extension, Strasburg, his wife and two daughters have made Washington their off-season home.

“Since he’s got here, Steve has had so much pressure and hype — almost unfairly — for what he was supposed to do in his career,” Zimmerman said. “And at the beginning of his career — I don’t want to say he let it get to him, because only he can tell you that — it had to be hard to deal with. I can’t imagine having that sort of pressure on you from Day 1.”

Seeing Strasburg laugh, dance and hug now, it is almost hard to remember those days. But he brushed off the notion that he was letting loose more than before.

“I feel pretty much the same to be honest,” said Strasburg, who has a career 1.10 E.R.A. in 41 postseason innings. “From the outside looking in, you can look at one thing. But you kind of just roll with what you’ve got, and we have a lot of guys that like to have a lot of fun. I’m not one to be the Debbie Downer here.”