TORONTO -- Back like he never left.
Spencer Strider hadn¡¯t toed a Major League mound in 376 days, his 2024 season ending after just two starts due to elbow surgery. As Strider finished rehab and a return drew near, anticipation built. Brief spring outings drew eyes and gaudy strikeout totals in Minor League games bred chatter.
Finally, with a year away and a repaired ligament, Strider delivered on the hype -- and also his 500th career K -- in his 2025 season debut. The righty worked through the Blue Jays¡¯ lineup, allowing two runs in five-plus innings in a 3-1 loss to Toronto at Rogers Centre on Wednesday.
¡°He's come a long way to get to the point where he's on the Major League mound again,¡± manager Brian Snitker said.
With his first pitch, Strider loudly announced his arrival. A 96.7 mph fastball on the inside corner of the plate whizzed by Bo Bichette¡¯s outstretched barrel to kickstart the righty¡¯s season debut. Two pitches later, Strider had his first strikeout of the season on a hard slider away.
The righty used that same slider to send Addison Barger walking back to the dugout in the fifth inning, earning Strider his 500th career strikeout. Reaching the milestone in just 334 innings pitched, Strider became the fastest pitcher (with at least 50 percent of his appearances coming as starts) to reach the 500-K mark.
The same fastball/slider combination that earned Strider 281 strikeouts, Cy Young votes, and a league-leading 20 wins back in 2023 returned on Wednesday. While Strider's average velocity on the heater (95.4) and breaking pitch (84.1) sat about 1.5 mph lower than his pre-surgery marks, the combo still earned 14 called strikes and 13 whiffs as he builds back up.
Strider¡¯s lone missteps came against Guerrero Jr., when the recently-extended first baseman slapped an RBI single in the third frame and launched a solo shot in the sixth to double Toronto¡¯s lead. While Strider¡¯s only lost battles came against Toronto¡¯s $500-million man, the righty was dissatisfied with his outing. Despite the many whiffs and five strikeouts, Strider felt he didn¡¯t execute with two strikes enough. Most importantly, he didn¡¯t leave in line for a win.
¡°My job isn't to come back and have a moment and all that,¡± Strider said. ¡°That's not how I look at it. I'm here to help the team.¡±
The Braves righty ended his day after five-plus innings and 97 pitches, building off the 90 offerings he threw in his final rehab outing. The Braves were cautious with Strider¡¯s return, allowing him just two short outings in Spring Training before three rehab outings with Triple-A Gwinnett. With 13 strikeouts in just 5 1/3 innings in his last rehab outing, it was clear the 2023 All Star was ready for the real thing. On Wednesday, he reaffirmed it.
¡°He'll get stronger as he goes,¡± Snitker said. ¡°As long as he feels good. I mean, there's no more determined guy or dedicated person than him in the world.¡±
When he's healthy, Strider is one of the game's most formidable pitchers. He owns a career 2.55 FIP and has won 32 of his 43 career decisions. The starter took the loss in his 2025 debut, as the Braves¡¯ only offensive push came via Drake Baldwin¡¯s ninth-inning homer, his first in MLB. It wasn¡¯t enough support to get Strider the win, but those will come.
Strider now slides into Atlanta¡¯s rotation alongside Spencer Schwellenbach and Chris Sale, forming a trio of aces. With the Braves¡¯ Wednesday loss pushing the team to 5-13, Atlanta will lean on that rotation upside to claw back to .500. If Strider builds on his season debut, Atlanta can set sights higher than that, too.