Just over a year after undergoing his second Tommy John surgery, Atlanta Braves ace Spencer Strider made his long-awaited return to the majors on Wednesday — and he did so in historic fashion.
Strider became the fastest starting pitcher in MLB history to reach 500 career strikeouts, reaching the milestone in his 335th inning when he fanned Addison Barger in the fifth. He pitched into the sixth inning, showcasing flashes of the dominant form that made him one of the most electric arms in the game before his elbow injury.
His 2025 debut ended after Vladimir Guerrero Jr. launched a solo homer to open the sixth, followed by a walk to Anthony Santander. Still, Strider’s 97-pitch effort marked a huge step forward after missing nearly a full year. “He’s come a long way to get back on a big league mound,” manager Brian Snitker said after the Braves’ 3-1 loss to Toronto. “He’ll just keep building from here.”
Strider’s last MLB appearance came in his second start of 2024 before undergoing surgery on April 13. With an internal brace added during the ligament replacement, he worked tirelessly through rehab and had already reached 90 pitches in a Triple-A rehab outing. On Wednesday, his fastball hit 97.9 mph early and settled into the mid-90s. He struggled briefly in the third, allowing back-to-back hits and an RBI double to Guerrero, but then found a groove, retiring eight straight between the fourth and fifth.
His historic 500th strikeout was a bright spot, though Strider wasn’t satisfied. He pointed to his inability to finish Guerrero in a tough sixth-inning battle as a key missed opportunity. “Five two-strike pitches, 0-for-5,” he said. “Uncompetitive, poorly executed pitches. That can’t happen.”
The Braves’ offense offered little support, striking out 19 times, including 10 against Toronto starter Chris Bassitt in just five innings. At 5-13, the team is off to a disappointing start despite seven straight postseason appearances. But Strider’s return provides hope.
While his strikeout total wasn’t eye-popping, the signs of progress are clear. If his stuff continues to sharpen, Strider could soon be back to the dominant force that led the majors in strikeouts in 2023.
“He’s doing things nobody’s ever done,” said Snitker. “He’s a huge part of this team and our rotation. It’s just good to have him back.”
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