Spencer Strider made his Grapefruit League debut for the Atlanta Braves, pitching two innings in a 7-5 win over the Baltimore Orioles on Saturday in Sarasota, Florida. The pitcher, recovering from a second major elbow surgery, focused on fastball shape rather than velocity, which averaged 93.1 mph. Strider expressed confidence in his progress despite fan expectations.
In his first spring training outing since undergoing a second major right elbow surgery two years ago, Atlanta Braves pitcher Spencer Strider took the mound against the Baltimore Orioles at Ed Smith Stadium in Sarasota, Florida. The game, played on the final day of February, ended with a 7-5 victory for the Braves.
Strider pitched two innings, allowing one run and two hits while striking out two batters. His four-seam fastball reached a top speed of 94.3 mph and averaged 93.1 mph—numbers expected to increase as the season approaches. For comparison, the pitch averaged 95.5 mph last year upon his return from the procedure and 97.2 mph in 2023, when he led Major League Baseball in strikeouts over the 2022-23 seasons with a 37.4 percent strikeout rate.
The pitcher's emphasis was on regaining the shape of his fastball, measured by induced vertical break (IVB). This metric stood at 18.4 inches in 2023, dropped to 16.4 inches in 2025, and measured 17 inches on Saturday. Strider, who had Tommy John surgery in 2019 and another ulnar collateral ligament repair after just two starts in 2024, stressed the importance of pacing himself during spring training to prepare for the 162-game regular season.
Addressing fan hopes for his return to elite form, Strider said, “It’s going to take time to get things where I know everybody wants them to be. In the meantime, I’ll keep hiding the radar guns and we’ll go from there.” He sarcastically referenced social media claims that radar guns were turned off during a recent live batting practice session. Strider added, “Every year you throw your first bullpen in the offseason, you throw your first bullpen in the spring, you throw your first game in the spring. They’re all data points. You’ve got to start somewhere.”
Experts agree there is no cause for concern over early velocity readings for a pitcher like Strider, known for his high-energy style.
