Atlanta Braves fans are eager to get the 2025 season started if for no other reason than to get the stink of the 2024 season off of them. The Braves literally limped to the end of the season as a wide swath of injuries decimated their roster and made any chance of a deep postseason run virtually impossible.
One of the Braves’ stars whose injury had the most impact was Spencer Strider. Considered to be one of the NL Cy Young favorites entering last season, but an errant bone chip forced Strider to need season-ending elbow surgery. Atlanta was able to stabilize their rotation thanks to good work from Chris Sale, Reynaldo Lopez, and Spencer Schwellenbach, but losing a dominant arm like Strider was the beginning of the end.
Fortunately, it doesn’t look like people have forgotten how good Strider can be. During his recent article on the 12 pitchers people must watch in spring training, MLB’s David Adler gave Strider a very prominent mention.
Spencer Strider, Fastball and Curveball, Individual Pitches + Overlay.
Why his Curveball is gonna make him that much tougher to hit. pic.twitter.com/7dzvIAsMxS
— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) March 11, 2024
Braves’ Spencer Strider named one of the pitchers fans must watch in 2025 spring training
It is hard to argue with Adler’s choice in Strider here and the list in general is quite good. Assuming Strider can match or even exceed his production from 2023 when he posted a 3.86 ERA and 2.85 FIP along with 281 strikeouts in 186.2 innings of work, he will quickly regain his spot among MLB’s pitching elite.
However, that isn’t necessarily where Adler’s interest in Strider during spring training lies. We already know that Strider won’t be ready for Opening Day, but it will be very apparent how far along Strider is in his rehab based on what we see in spring training. If Strider is throwing off the mound normally and ramping up, an early 2025 return is in the cards.
Given everything we have heard about Strider’s rehab thus far, that is what fans should expect. Unfortunately, injury setbacks can and do happen and if Strider experiences soreness or worse this spring, his availability early in the season will quickly become questionable.
One hopes that when fans inevitably turn in to see Strider, it is him piping high-90’s fastballs and wipeout sliders at willing. Whether he excels or not, watching him is definitely one of Braves fans biggest assignment during spring training.
