Spencer Strider | |
---|---|
Atlanta Braves – No. 99 | |
Pitcher | |
Born: Columbus, Ohio, U.S. | October 28, 1998|
Bats: Right Throws: Right | |
MLB debut | |
October 1, 2021, for the Atlanta Braves | |
MLB statistics (through April 5,2024) | |
Win–loss record | 32–10 |
Earned run average | 3.47 |
Strikeouts | 495 |
Teams | |
| |
Career highlights and awards | |
|
Spencer Robert Strider (born October 28,1998) is an American professional baseball pitcher for the Atlanta Braves of Major League Baseball (MLB). He played college baseball for the Clemson Tigers,and was drafted by the Atlanta Braves in the fourth round of the 2020 MLB draft. He made his MLB debut in 2021. Strider was an MLB All-Star in 2023,and he led MLB in wins and strikeouts for the season.
Strider attended the Christian Academy of Knoxville in Knoxville,Tennessee. He was drafted by the Cleveland Indians in the 35th round of the 2017 Major League Baseball draft,but did not sign and played college baseball at Clemson University for the Clemson Tigers. [1] In 2018,he played collegiate summer baseball with the Falmouth Commodores of the Cape Cod Baseball League. [2] [3] Strider missed the 2019 season after suffering a torn ulnar collateral ligament in his elbow,which required Tommy John surgery. [4] He returned from the injury in 2020 and was drafted by the Atlanta Braves in the fourth round of the 2020 Major League Baseball Draft and signed. [5]
Strider split his professional debut of 2021 between the Augusta GreenJackets,the Rome Braves,the Mississippi Braves,and the Gwinnett Stripers. [6] [7] [8] Between the four stops he posted a 3–7 record with a 3.64 ERA and 153 strikeouts over 94 innings. [9] [10]
On October 1,2021,Strider was selected to the Atlanta active roster. [11] [12] He made his major league debut that night,pitching one inning of relief against the New York Mets. [13] [14] Strider earned his first career win on the final day of the season,again facing the Mets in relief. [15] The Braves finished with an 88–73 record,clinching the NL East,and eventually won the 2021 World Series,giving the Braves their first title since 1995. [16]
Strider began the 2022 season on the Braves' Opening Day roster. [17] He began the season in the bullpen and was moved to the starting rotation from May 30 onwards. [18] Strider was named National League Rookie of the Month for July. [19] On September 1,he broke the Braves' record for most strikeouts in a nine-inning game,fanning 16 Colorado Rockies batters in eight shutout innings. [20] [21] On September 18,Strider became the fastest pitcher in either the American League or National League to throw 200 strikeouts in a single season,reaching the milestone in 130 innings pitched. [22] He was also the first rookie in the franchise's modern-era history to strike out 200 batters in a single season. [23] The feat had been accomplished by Bill Stemmyer and Kid Nichols in 1886 and 1890,respectively,while the franchise was known as the Boston Beaneaters. [24] Strider made his final appearance of the 2022 regular season on September 18, [25] and was placed on the 15-day injured list due to an oblique injury on September 24. [26] [27] On October 10,2022,the Braves and Strider agreed to a 6-year,$75M extension through the 2029 season. [28] [29] For the 2022 regular season,he was 11–5 with a 2.67 ERA in 31 games (20 starts). [30] Strider recovered from his injury for the 2022 postseason and was placed on the National League Division Series roster, [31] being named the starter in Game 3 versus the Philadelphia Phillies. Strider struggled,pitching just 2.1 innings and earning the loss in a 9–1 defeat;the Phillies would eliminate the Braves in four games. At the end of the season,Strider finished second in the National League Rookie of the Year Award balloting to teammate Michael Harris II. [32] This is the first time that two Braves players have finished first and second in Rookie of the Year voting since Craig Kimbrel and Freddie Freeman in 2011.
Strider became the fastest pitcher in MLB history to attain 100 strikeouts in a season,achieving the feat in 61.0 innings. The record was previously held by Jacob deGrom. [33] At the midseason,Strider was selected as a reserve starting pitcher for the National League in the 2023 Major League Baseball All-Star Game,his first career All-Star selection. [34]
On August 1,Strider broke his own previously set record for the fastest to attain 200 strikeouts in a season,doing so in 123.1 innings pitched. [35] On September 30,2023,Strider won his twentieth game of the season and broke John Smoltz's Atlanta Braves record for strikeouts in a season,finishing the year with 281. [36] In 32 starts of 2023,Strider finished with a 20–5 record,286 strikeouts,and a 3.86 ERA. [37]
In 2024,Strider was named the Opening Day starting pitcher for the first time in his career, [38] [39] supplanting Max Fried. [40] Strider pitched five innings of a no-decision. [41] [42] During Strider's next start,the Braves home opener at Truist Park,he reported elbow discomfort. [43] [44] After magnetic resonance imaging showed damage to the UCL in Strider's right elbow, [45] [46] he was placed on the injured list. [47] On April 13,2024,the Braves announced that Strider would miss the remainder of the 2024 season after undergoing surgery to repair his UCL. [48] [49]
During the 2018 college baseball season,Strider's repertoire included a two-seam fastball,a slurve-like pitch,and a changeup he did not use often. After recovering from Tommy John surgery,Strider began throwing a four-seam fastball,and became more willing to pitch in the upper region of the strike zone. [50]
As of the 2023 season,Strider makes use of two main pitches:a four-seam fastball sitting 97–98 mph,which he throws 60 percent of the time;and a slider sitting 85–86 mph,which he throws 35 percent of the time. [51] Additionally,Strider throws a changeup sitting 87–88 mph around 5 percent of the time,usually against left-handed hitters. [51]
Strider began throwing a curveball before the 2024 regular season. [52] [53]
Strider is a vegan,except occasionally he eats salmon. [54] Before tournaments,Strider's high school teammates grew facial hair and dyed their hair blond as a bonding exercise. He maintained a mustache during his collegiate baseball career at Clemson,where he became known as "The Mustache Man." [55] In high school,Strider wore uniform number 28. Because that number was assigned to Clemson teammate Seth Beer,Strider wore 29 while playing for the Tigers. As the Braves had retired 29 for pitcher John Smoltz,and 28 was assigned to Matt Olson,Strider wore 65 during his rookie season,then subsequently chose 99 to commemorate Rick Vaughn,a character in the 1989 film Major League . [56] [57]
Strider publicly supports left-wing politics and has praised former Democratic Party presidential candidate Bernie Sanders. [58]
Before the 2023 season began,Strider married Maggie,whom he had first met in high school. [59]
Michael David Minor is an American professional baseball pitcher who is a free agent. He was drafted by the Atlanta Braves with the seventh overall pick in the 2009 MLB draft. He has played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Kansas City Royals,Texas Rangers,Oakland Athletics,and Cincinnati Reds.
Craig Michael Kimbrel is an American professional baseball pitcher for the Baltimore Orioles of Major League Baseball (MLB). He has previously played in MLB for the Atlanta Braves,San Diego Padres,Boston Red Sox,Chicago Cubs,Chicago White Sox,Los Angeles Dodgers,and Philadelphia Phillies. He is a nine-time All-Star,two-time Reliever of the Year,and a 2018 World Series champion.
Julio Alberto Teherán Pinto is a Colombian professional baseball pitcher in the Chicago Cubs organization. He has previously played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Atlanta Braves,Los Angeles Angels,Detroit Tigers,Milwaukee Brewers,and New York Mets.
Max Dorian Fried is an American professional baseball pitcher for the Atlanta Braves of Major League Baseball (MLB). Drafted in 2012 by the San Diego Padres in the first round,seventh overall,Fried made his major league debut in 2017. His 17 wins in 2019 were 2nd-most in the National League,and his seven wins in 2020 were again 2nd-most in the NL. Fried pitched 6 shut-out innings in the final game of the 2021 World Series against the Houston Astros,helping lead the Braves to their first World Series title in 26 years. Through 2023,Fried had the best career win–loss percentage of all Braves pitchers,at .705.
Michael Gary Foltynewicz,nicknamed "Folty",is an American former professional baseball pitcher. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Houston Astros,Atlanta Braves,and Texas Rangers.
Matthew Robert Wisler is an American former professional baseball pitcher. He was drafted by the San Diego Padres out of high school in the seventh round of the 2011 Major League Baseball draft. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Atlanta Braves,Cincinnati Reds,San Diego Padres,Seattle Mariners,Minnesota Twins,San Francisco Giants,and Tampa Bay Rays.
Lucas Sundberg Sims is an American professional baseball pitcher for the Cincinnati Reds of Major League Baseball (MLB). He previously played for the Atlanta Braves.
Sean William Newcomb is an American professional baseball pitcher for the Oakland Athletics of Major League Baseball (MLB). He played college baseball at the University of Hartford. The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim selected Newcomb in the first round of the 2014 MLB draft,and traded him to the Atlanta Braves in 2015. He made his MLB debut in 2017 with the Braves,and has also played for the Chicago Cubs.
Luke Ray Jackson is an American professional baseball pitcher for the San Francisco Giants of Major League Baseball (MLB). He was drafted by the Texas Rangers in the first round,45th overall,of the 2010 MLB draft. He made his MLB debut in 2015 with the Rangers,and has also played for the Atlanta Braves.
Williams David Pérez Montes is a Venezuelan professional baseball pitcher who is a free agent. Pérez signed with the Atlanta Braves as an amateur free agent in 2009. He has played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Braves in 2015-16.
Kolby Kenneth Allard is an American professional baseball pitcher for the Philadelphia Phillies of Major League Baseball (MLB). He has previously played in MLB for the Atlanta Braves and Texas Rangers. He was selected by the Braves with the 14th overall pick in the first round of the 2015 MLB draft.
Michael John Graydon Soroka is a Canadian professional baseball pitcher for the Chicago White Sox of Major League Baseball (MLB). A native of Calgary,Soroka graduated from Bishop Carroll High School. He was drafted 28th overall by the Atlanta Braves in 2015,and he spent portions of four seasons in the minor leagues before being called up to the Braves.
Alex Jordan Minter is an American professional baseball pitcher for the Atlanta Braves of Major League Baseball (MLB). He played college baseball at Texas A&M University. Minter was drafted by the Braves in the second round of the 2015 MLB draft. He made his MLB debut in 2017.
Patrick Charles Weigel is an American professional baseball pitcher for the Saraperos de Saltillo of the Mexican League. He has previously played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Atlanta Braves and Milwaukee Brewers.
Kyle Hardy Wright is an American professional baseball pitcher for the Kansas City Royals of Major League Baseball (MLB). He has previously played in MLB for the Atlanta Braves. He played college baseball at Vanderbilt University. He was selected by the Braves with the fifth overall selection of the 2017 Major League Baseball draft,and made his MLB debut in 2018.
Evan John Phillips is an American professional baseball pitcher for the Los Angeles Dodgers of Major League Baseball (MLB). He has previously played in MLB for the Atlanta Braves,Baltimore Orioles and Tampa Bay Rays.
Joseph Tucker Davidson is an American professional baseball pitcher in the Baltimore Orioles organization. He has previously played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Atlanta Braves,Los Angeles Angels,and Kansas City Royals. Davidson played college baseball at Midland College. He was drafted by the Braves in the 19th round of the 2016 MLB draft,and made his MLB debut with them in 2020.
Jared Craig Shuster is an American professional baseball pitcher for the Chicago White Sox of Major League Baseball (MLB). He played college baseball at Wake Forest University. The Atlanta Braves selected him in the first round of the 2020 MLB draft,and he made his MLB debut in 2023.
Bryce Cason Elder is an American professional baseball pitcher for the Atlanta Braves of Major League Baseball (MLB). Elder played college baseball at the University of Texas at Austin,and was drafted by the Braves in the fifth round of the 2020 MLB draft. He made his MLB debut in 2022.
Dylan Ryan Lee is an American professional baseball pitcher for the Atlanta Braves of Major League Baseball (MLB). He played college baseball for Fresno State. He was drafted by the Miami Marlins in the 10th round of the 2016 MLB draft. He made his MLB debut in 2021 and started the fourth game of the 2021 World Series for the Atlanta Braves.