{"id":115563,"date":"2026-03-12T21:47:20","date_gmt":"2026-03-13T01:47:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/?p=115563"},"modified":"2026-03-12T21:47:20","modified_gmt":"2026-03-13T01:47:20","slug":"atlanta-braves-spencer-strider-willing-to-change-as-pitcher","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/2026\/03\/12\/atlanta-braves-spencer-strider-willing-to-change-as-pitcher\/","title":{"rendered":"Spencer Strider Continues to Grow as a Pitcher"},"content":{"rendered":"

Atlanta Braves starting pitcher Spencer Strider<\/a> struggled in 2025<\/a> after having Tommy John surgery. With the right-hander now two years removed from the surgery, Braves pitching coach Jeremy Hefner<\/a> said Strider is willing to \u201ctry new things\u201d to get better. <\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cI would agree with that,\u201d Braves pitching coach Jeremy Hefner said to Mark Bowman of MLB.com<\/span><\/a>. \u201cYou get backed into a corner because you don’t have the same stuff that you did before and you have to figure out a way. So that’s a credit to Spencer and his willingness to try new things and try to figure out how to be the best version of himself to help the team win. Sometimes bad things or poor performance can lead you to be a better version of yourself.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

In 2025, Strider went 7-14 with a 4.45 ERA in 23 starts and had a career low 131 strikeouts in 125 1\/3 innings. In three games this spring, the former All-Star has a 3.24 ERA and 11 strikeouts in 8 1\/3 innings.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Braves’ Spencer Strider Adding to His Repertoire, Showing Willingness to Grow as a Pitcher<\/span><\/h2>\n

Strider entered the major leagues as a power pitcher, featuring a four-seamer that hit triple digits. His dominance with only two pitches (fastball\/slider) led to him winning 20 games in 2023 and finishing fourth in Cy Young Award voting. <\/span><\/p>\n

Braves manager Walt Weiss<\/a> liked Strider\u2019s willingness to get better when he added a curveball to his repertoire in 2024. <\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cWhen he got to us as a kid, his first time in the big leagues, he didn’t really have a breaking ball,\u201d Braves manager Walt Weiss said. \u201cHe had a little slider, but then did some work. Now it’s really good. And he got a curveball. He throws a changeup. He had to do those things to survive last year because he didn’t have his fastball. Now the fastball is trending like it is, and you add the other stuff, it’s exciting.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

Strider generated a 53.7 percent whiff rate on his curveball in 2024.<\/p>\n

Strider Needs to Be a Pitcher, Not a Thrower<\/span><\/h2>\n

The Braves are counting on Strider to be their No. 2 starter this season. Left-hander Chris Sale<\/a> will be the team’s ace. <\/span><\/p>\n

So far this spring, the Braves have had multiple injuries to pitchers in the starting rotation. Left-handed Joey Wentz<\/a> was the latest casualty<\/a>, missing 2026 with an ACL tear<\/span><\/a>. <\/span><\/p>\n

Since having Tommy John surgery, Strider\u2019s fastball hasn’t been the same. In a start on March 5 against the Toronto Blue Jays, his fastball topped out at 96.7mph. <\/span>Not having that triple-digit fastball will hurt Strider\u2019s game, but it doesn’t mean it’s the end. In his start on Wednesday, Strider pitched four innings and struck out five Tampa Bay Rays.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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Spencer Strider is evolving after met Jeremy Hefner!!??<\/p>\n

4 IP | 0 R | 5 K
\nFB velo 94-96 (MAX 97)
\n70.5 Strike%<\/p>\n

?Confidently attacking Strike zone<\/p>\n

?Increasing Curve, Changeup to transform into “4-pitch mix SP”<\/p>\n

? 4SFB profile also improving ?#BravesCountry<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/6CU0uQLLTH<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Eric Yu (@Eric35_Yu) March 11, 2026<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n