Spencer Strider Impresses in Spring Return, Strikes Out Six Red Sox Hitters
Atlanta Braves star pitcher Spencer Strider made a remarkable comeback on Monday, showcasing his dominance on the mound with an outstanding performance against the Boston Red Sox in Grapefruit League action. In his first pitching appearance since undergoing elbow surgery last April, the 26-year-old right-hander displayed precision and confidence, striking out six of the eight batters he faced over 2 2/3 perfect innings.
Strider, who humorously noted afterward, “it was fun to play again,” described the experience as rewarding after months of recovery and preparation. He had been sidelined since sustaining a significant elbow injury just two starts into the 2024 season, which required surgery on his ulnar collateral ligament.
The Braves ace wasted no time making an impact, swiftly dispatching Vaughn Grissom and Roman Anthony with three-pitch strikeouts in the opening inning. He continued his dominance in the second inning by striking out all three batters. Strider completed his impressive outing with another quick three-pitch strikeout of Trayce Thompson in the third inning before being removed from the game.
Adding levity to his successful return, Strider joked about mistakenly heading toward the dugout after just two outs in the third inning. “It’s been a while since I’ve pitched,” he quipped. “Counting to three isn’t my strongest suit—I definitely wasn’t a math major in college. Apparently, I need someone to remind me when it’s okay to leave.”
Since debuting with Atlanta in 2021, Strider has quickly become one of the most feared pitchers in baseball, posting an impressive 32-10 career record with a 3.47 ERA across 67 games (54 starts). Known for his powerful strikeouts, he has tallied 495 strikeouts in just 329 2/3 innings.
Strider earned recognition early in his career as runner-up for National League Rookie of the Year in 2022. He followed that by making the All-Star team in 2023, leading Major League Baseball with 20 wins and an impressive 281 strikeouts, ultimately finishing fourth in the NL Cy Young Award voting that year.
Strider’s strong spring debut signals a promising season ahead for both the pitcher and the Atlanta Braves as they aim for another successful campaign.
