Atlanta Braves ace Spencer Strider made his much-anticipated return to the mound on Monday, and he turned in a dominating three innings towards the Boston Pink Sox in spring-training play.
Coming off a 2024 season wherein a UCL sprain price him all however two begins, Strider on Monday was seeing his first recreation motion since April 5 of final yr. In 2 ⅔ innings towards Boston, Strider notched six strikeouts towards no walks, allowed no runs on no hits, and flashed his customary elite fastball velocity. Here is a glance:
Sure, it is a Grapefruit League begin towards a lineup largely populated by minor-leaguers, but it surely was total a deeply encouraging return for Strider. Strider and the Braves opted for an internal-brace restore to his UCL reasonably than the complete Tommy John surgical procedure, which permits for a faster restoration and return. Nonetheless, Strider and the Braves took the prudent strategy this spring, maybe as a result of he beforehand underwent Tommy John surgical procedure whereas in school at Clemson. The hope is that Strider will get constructed up and have the ability to rejoin the Atlanta rotation by late April or early Might. Monday’s efficiency actually made that appear like an attainable aim, although setbacks are at all times attainable.
As soon as he does return, Strider shall be trying to return to his spot among the many most dominant beginning pitchers in baseball. Throughout the mixed 2022-23 seasons, Strider pitched to a glowing 2.43 FIP over 318 ⅓ innings and struck out 37.4% of opposing batters — the latter a sky-scraping determine for a beginning pitcher. In his final wholesome season of 2023, he completed fourth within the Nationwide League Cy Younger vote and earned his first All-Star choice. At age 26, Strider ought to resume dominating as soon as the Braves resolve he is prepared for a full return.
In what figures to be a tricky NL East race towards the Philadelphia Phillies and New York Mets, the Braves want classic Strider for the majority of the season in 2025. Reigning NL Cy Younger winner Chris Sale returns on the entrance finish of the Atlanta rotation, however he’ll at all times be a wholesome and sturdiness danger. The identical to some extent applies to Reynaldo López. As effectively, co-ace Max Fried departed to the New York Yankees by way of free company, and veteran stalwart Charlie Morton took to market and inked with the Baltimore Orioles. Clearly, Strider’s frontline excellence is required however so is the depth he’ll present. Add all of it up, and he is some of the vital “comeback” gamers of 2025, and his first motion of spring suggests he is prepared to fulfill all these expectations.
