NORTH PORT, Fla. — Atlanta Braves pitcher Spencer Strider made an impressive return to the mound in his first Grapefruit League appearance since undergoing Tommy John surgery last year. The 26-year-old right-hander struck out six batters and didn’t allow a single base runner over 2 2/3 innings against the Boston Red Sox.
The only Red Sox hitters to avoid striking out against Strider were David Hamilton, who grounded out to second base to open the game, and Nick Sogard, who popped out foul to third baseman Austin Riley to start the third inning. Strider’s dominant outing marked a strong comeback after a challenging 2023 season, during which he made just two starts, posting a 7.00 ERA before being sidelined for the year.
This followed a standout 2023 campaign where Strider went 20-5 with a 3.86 ERA and led Major League Baseball with 281 strikeouts in 186 2/3 innings. His performance that year earned him a spot on the National League All-Star team and a fourth-place finish in the Cy Young Award voting.
With a career record of 32-10, a 3.47 ERA, and 495 strikeouts in 329 2/3 innings, Strider has quickly established himself as one of the Braves’ top pitchers. Despite having only 33 major league appearances at the time, the Braves secured his future by signing him to a six-year, $75 million contract in October 2022. His latest outing signals a promising return to form as he looks to build on his early career success.
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