Braves Dismiss Spencer Strider Radar Gun Speculation as Technical Glitch
The Atlanta Braves found themselves addressing an unexpected storyline this week after fans noticed that the radar gun was not displaying readings during Spencer Strider’s live batting practice session.
What might have otherwise been a routine spring training detail quickly evolved into online speculation, with some observers questioning whether the absence of velocity readings signaled deeper concerns about Strider’s arm strength.
Atlanta moved swiftly to quell the narrative.
According to MLB.com’s Mark Bowman, the Braves clarified that the radar gun was not intentionally turned off while Strider was throwing, attributing the issue to a technical complication connected to the Automated Ball-Strike system setup.
“The Braves said they didn’t purposely turn off the radar gun with Strider throwing his live BP today,” Bowman reported. “It was a technical issue that had to do with the ABS setup.”
Why the Reaction Was So Strong
The heightened scrutiny surrounding Strider is not arbitrary.
After emerging as one of baseball’s most electric young pitchers during his first three MLB seasons, Strider lost the entire 2024 campaign to an elbow injury that raised long-term durability questions.
When he returned in 2025, the results were noticeably less dominant.
He finished the season with a 4.45 ERA, a 1.396 WHIP, and 131 strikeouts, while posting a 33.3% winning percentage, a statistical profile that fell short of the overpowering standard he previously established.
For a pitcher whose identity is closely tied to elite velocity and strikeout dominance, even subtle fluctuations in radar readings can trigger outsized concern.
Fans are particularly sensitive to velocity trends following elbow injuries, as diminished fastball speed can be an early indicator of either lingering physical limitation or mechanical adjustment.
The Conspiracy Theories
Despite the Braves’ clarification, skepticism circulated rapidly across social media platforms.
Some fans questioned the timing of the technical malfunction, suggesting that the absence of displayed velocity readings during Strider’s session felt suspiciously convenient.
“If they feel the need to say this, they probably did it on purpose,” one fan commented, reflecting a broader distrust among certain corners of the fanbase.
Others dismissed the explanation outright, while a smaller contingent accepted the statement at face value but acknowledged the optics were unfortunate.
This reaction underscores the heightened expectations attached to Strider’s 2026 campaign.
The Braves are not merely hoping for improvement.
They need him to reestablish frontline reliability within a rotation that hinges heavily on his ceiling.
What Actually Matters
Ultimately, whether the radar gun displayed readings during one live batting practice session is far less consequential than Strider’s actual performance once exhibition games and regular-season competition begin.
Velocity readings will become public and unavoidable as soon as he appears in official spring training matchups, eliminating ambiguity about his arm strength.
More importantly, Strider’s command, pitch sequencing, and ability to sustain mechanics deep into outings will determine whether he has fully regained pre-injury form.
Pitchers returning from elbow injuries often experience a transitional year before rediscovering rhythm, and 2025 may have represented that adjustment period.
If his velocity stabilizes near prior levels and his secondary pitches regain sharpness, concerns about a temporarily dark radar gun will quickly fade.
For now, the Braves have made their position clear: the equipment malfunction was technical, not tactical.
The broader truth is that 2026 will answer the only question that matters — whether Spencer Strider is once again capable of anchoring Atlanta’s rotation as one of baseball’s premier strikeout artists.
