Spencer Strider is a professional baseball pitcher currently playing for the Atlanta Braves in MLB. Drafted by the Braves in 2020 after playing college baseball at Clemson University, he debuted in the majors in 2021. Strider was named an MLB All-Star in 2023, a season in which he led MLB in both wins and strikeouts, marking him as one of the league's dominant pitchers.
In 1989, the film Major League was released, and Spencer Strider later chose to wear number 99 to commemorate a character from the film.
In 1995, The Braves won their first title since 1995.
On October 28, 1998, Spencer Robert Strider was born. He is now a professional baseball pitcher.
In 2011, Craig Kimbrel and Freddie Freeman of the Atlanta Braves finished first and second, respectively, in Rookie of the Year voting.
In 2017, Spencer Strider was drafted by the Cleveland Indians in the 35th round of the MLB draft but chose to attend college instead of signing.
In 2018, Spencer Strider played collegiate summer baseball with the Falmouth Commodores of the Cape Cod Baseball League.
In 2019, Spencer Strider missed the season after tearing his ulnar collateral ligament in his elbow, requiring Tommy John surgery.
In 2020, Spencer Strider was drafted by the Atlanta Braves in the fourth round of the MLB draft.
On October 1, 2021, Spencer Strider was selected to the Atlanta Braves active roster and made his major league debut, pitching one inning of relief against the New York Mets.
In 2021, Spencer Strider made his Major League Baseball debut with the Atlanta Braves.
On October 10, 2022, the Atlanta Braves and Spencer Strider agreed to a 6-year, $75 million contract extension through the 2029 season.
On September 30, 2023, Spencer Strider won his twentieth game of the season and broke John Smoltz's Atlanta Braves record for strikeouts in a season, finishing the year with 281.
As of the 2023 season, Spencer Strider's main pitches are a four-seam fastball, thrown 60% of the time, and a slider, thrown 35% of the time, with a changeup used occasionally.
Before the 2023 season, Spencer Strider married his wife Maggie, whom he had first met in high school.
In 2023, Spencer Strider was an MLB All-Star and led MLB in wins and strikeouts.
In 2023, Spencer Strider was selected as a reserve starting pitcher for the National League in the Major League Baseball All-Star Game, marking his first career All-Star selection.
On April 13, 2024, the Atlanta Braves announced that Spencer Strider would miss the remainder of the 2024 season after undergoing surgery to repair his UCL.
On September 12, 2024, Spencer Strider threw out a "first pitch" at a Faye Webster concert.
Before the 2024 regular season, Spencer Strider began throwing a curveball.
Spencer Strider's 6-year contract extension with the Braves, signed in 2022, extends through the 2029 season.