Is the 2023 All-Star Ready to be Fully Back for the Atlanta Braves?
The Atlanta Braves are on schedule to give Spencer Strider a full return. Strider made his 2025 season debut on April 16th after achieving his 500th career strikeout while pitching five innings following internal brace surgery on his right elbow in April 2024. Unfortunately, he was placed on the 15-day disabled list immediately after suffering a Grade One hamstring injury. Strider has been taking part in bullpen sessions and states that he is "good to go" as of today. He will need to serve a minor league rehab assignment before returning to the major league rotation, according to the Braves' current assessment. He is expected to return to the Braves' starting lineup soon due to his quick recovery and encouraging development, which might soon strengthen the team's pitching staff.
Strider is one of the most formidable young pitchers in the game thanks to his blazing fastball, razor-sharp slider, and outstanding strikeout ability. Even against elite hitters, his fastball can reach triple digits and frequently sits in the upper 90s, producing whiffs. Strider keeps batters off balance by combining that velocity with a powerful slider that tunnels well off his fastball and breaks quickly. He can control lineups well into games because of his outstanding command and mound presence, and his strong strikeout rate constantly reduces damage by keeping fewer balls in play. When healthy, Strider is a huge asset to the Braves' rotation and a real frontline starter thanks to his intense work ethic and aggressiveness.
Given that Strider greatly increases the Braves' pitching depth and general competitiveness, they are expected to get better now that he is back in the rotation. When healthy, Strider is among the most effective strikeout pitchers in baseball, adding a powerful arm that can stop even the best offenses. By reducing the burden for the rest of the staff, his return would provide the Braves greater flexibility in close games and keep the bullpen healthier. Returning an ace-caliber pitcher might also boost team confidence and invigorate the clubhouse. Strider might be a major driver of a robust midseason surge if he can maintain his health and get back to his previous level of play.
