Strider nearing Spring Training game action after facing hitters

NORTH PORT, Fla. -- If you are wondering how Spencer Strider is feeling as he completes his rehab, you may be encouraged to hear that Braves pitching coach Rick Kranitz recently had to remind his high-energy pitcher to tone it down a level as he pitched to some teammates in live batting practice. Repeatedly.

¡°I think it¡¯s gone super well,¡± Strider said. ¡°In hindsight, there¡¯s always going to be things we could have done differently, places where we should have slowed down and places where we should have sped up. But I think it¡¯s been a really seamless process so far.¡±

It still looks like Strider could rejoin Atlanta¡¯s rotation by the end of April, a little more than a year after the ulnar collateral ligament in his right elbow was repaired by the insertion of synthetic brace. This procedure sidelines pitchers for 9-12 months, while the Tommy John ligament transplant procedure requires closer to 18 months of recovery.

Strider simulated two innings while throwing to Ronald Acu?a Jr. and Ozzie Albies during a live batting practice session on the main field at CoolToday Park on Friday. He will throw at least one more BP before possibly being cleared to pitch in a big league or Minor League Spring Training game.

Strider¡¯s bid to pitch in a Grapefruit League contest depends on if the Braves have enough innings available for him. Regardless, if he begins building innings during the final week of camp, he would keep himself in line to be activated at some point during the second half of April.

¡°Getting closer to hopefully getting into a game,¡± Strider said. ¡°I¡¯m certainly looking forward to that and just having what feels like an increase in intensity when I actually start pitching.¡±

While Kranitz and others might be trying to harness Strider, the energetic pitcher recognizes the importance of steadily building his intensity. But he acknowledges it¡¯s not necessarily easy to get the blood flowing while pitching to teammates in an empty stadium on an early March morning.

¡°There¡¯s nobody on the field and you¡¯re moving at a speed dictated by that environment,¡± Strider said. ¡°Now, all of the sudden we throw you in a game and all of the sudden, you¡¯re going to move faster. Now, you¡¯re going to get sore. Now you¡¯re going to lose command. Now, your stuff is going to change. That¡¯s kind of what I¡¯m assessing. How well did I do that?¡±

The good news is Strider hasn¡¯t had any physical setbacks. Former Brave Dale Murphy was impressed with what he saw as he sat behind the plate while the pitcher threw a side session a few weeks ago. As for Albies and Acu?a, they spent Friday getting a glimpse of the stuff that allowed Strider to easily lead the Majors in strikeouts (483) from the start of the 2022 season through the end of 2023.

¡°Ronald is still dealing with his own rehab process,¡± Strider said. ¡°Certainly, I think I¡¯d still own him and I have. There¡¯s history behind that, even when he is healthy.¡±

What¡¯s the history? Is Acu?a like 0-for-6 with strikeouts in live BP sessions against Strider?

¡°I don¡¯t know what¡¯s behind it, but I know it starts with an 0-for,¡± Strider said.

The confidence and sense of humor are back. If all goes well, it won¡¯t be long until Strider is back.