On Thursday the Atlanta Braves wrapped up their 4th consecutive division title. With three games remaining with the New York Mets, the team has called up one of their top pitching prospects for a quick try-out that could potentially impact the postseason roster
The Player
Spencer Strider, RHP
Age: 22
OFR Prospect Rank: 6
2021 Level: A/A+/AA/AAA
The Results (combined all levels)
3.64 ERA / 2.80 FIP
22 G, 21 GS
94.0 IP
3.83 BB/9
14.65 K/9
The History
Spencer Strider was originally drafted out of Christian Academy of Knoxville in 2018 in the 35th round by Cleveland, but he elected to honor his commitment to Clemson University. He was a Freshman All-American in 2018, but suffered a UCL tear that kept him out the entire 2019 season. After getting Tommy John surgery, he returned for four games in the pandemic-shortened 2020 season. This was enough to convince the Braves to draft Strider in the 4th round of the shortened 5-round 2020 draft.
Strider finally made his pro debut on May 14 with the class-A Augusta GreenJackets, and he immediately opened eyes by displaying an overpowering 100-mph fastball that dominated the overmatched Myrtle Beach Pelicans. After striking out 32 batters in only 15.1 innings at the low-A level using almost exclusively his fastball, the Braves moved Strider up to high-A Rome.
The results in Rome were much the same: 24 strikeouts in 14.2 innings, including 12 against the Bowling Green Hot Rods, the best high-A team in the nation. With Rome, Strider starting incorporating a new breaking ball more often, modelled after Luke Jackson‘s slider. After that start against Bowling Green, Strider was again moved up, this time to AA Mississippi.
Strider made 14 starts for Mississippi and again posted gaudy strikeout numbers, 94 in 63 innings pitched. Strider began using a full three-pitch mix, with the change-up now included. Strider posted a 4.71 ERA with Mississippi, but still held opponents to a .211/.312/.364 batting line. He won Game 3 of the Double-A South championship series, retiring the first 9 batters of the game before finishing with 5 innings, 6 hits, 3 runs (2 earned), 0 walks, and 7 strikeouts.
Immediately following the conclusion of that series, Strider was called up to AAA Gwinnett, and pitched one inning of relief on Wednesday, allowing one hit and striking out the side. In the short appearance, Strider threw the fastball exclusively, sitting at 99 miles per hour and touching 101.
The Report
Strider is 6’0″ and 195 pounds, a somewhat compact frame that belies the power of his repertoire. He hides the ball well before releasing the out of a three-quarters arm slot. His 4-seam fastball is thrown with conviction and velocity, typically up in the zone. As a starter, the fastball would sit in the mid-90s, but in shorter stints he can easily hit 99-101.
Strider throws a sharp slider with strong vertical movement modelled on Luke Jackson’s breaking ball (Strider discussed this pitch in depth with David Laurila of Fangraphs earlier this season). When he has feel for this pitch it can be devastating in combination with the fastball, through he will occasionally have trouble controlling it.
The change-up is still a developing pitch that shows promise, but will likely not be used in relief.
Overall he is currently a control-over-command pitcher, spraying pitches in and around the strikezone, but with the plus-plus fastball and the breaker it pretty much doesn’t matter right now. Strider exudes a confidence on the mound — some may say cockiness — that at least to date he has completely backed up.
What’s Next
Strider will likely get one or two appearances this weekend against the Mets. Make no mistake: this is a tryout for the postseason. Outside of Luke Jackson, the Braves right-handed relievers have not been particularly strong in the second half of the season, and there is room for someone who can come in and throw strikes in short stints. Strider is the first prospect drafted in the Alex Anthopoulos-era to make his major league debut, and only the third 2020 draftee to make it to the Show.
Here is some video from earlier in the season in Rome showing both the fastball and slider.
Leave a Reply