Braves Pitcher Spencer Strider Out for the Season after Internal Brace Surgery

In a major setback for the Atlanta Braves, right-hander Spencer Strider will miss the remainder of the 2024 season due to an internal brace surgery. The Braves announced the news on Friday after it was revealed that Strider had suffered some UCL damage.

This marks the second significant injury absence in Strider's career, as he had previously undergone Tommy John surgery in 2019 while pitching at Clemson. Despite the challenges, Strider's impressive performance in his first taste of professional baseball quickly catapulted him through the Braves' farm system, leading to his MLB debut in October 2021.

Since then, Strider has established himself as a frontline arm for the Braves. Over the past two seasons, he has posted an impressive 3.36 ERA, an eight percent walk rate, and an outstanding 37.4% strikeout rate. This stellar performance earned him runner-up in NL Rookie of the Year voting in 2022 and an All-Star selection. In October 2022, Strider signed a six-year, $75MM contract extension, solidifying his position as one of Atlanta's key players.

Unfortunately, Strider's promising career will now be put on hold as his recovery timeline is uncertain. Although internal brace surgeries have a shorter recovery time compared to Tommy John procedures, the lack of established norms makes it difficult to determine when Strider will be able to return to Atlanta's rotation.

While the Braves have other talented pitchers in their starting lineup, such as Max Fried, Charlie Morton, Chris Sale, and Reynaldo Lopez, losing Strider is a significant blow to their hopes of winning the 2024 World Series. The team will likely rely on pitchers like Darius Vines, Bryce Elder, Dylan Dodd, Huascar Ynoa, and AJ Smith-Shawver to fill the void left by Strider's absence.

President of baseball operations, Alex Anthopoulos, may reevaluate the team's pitching needs as the season progresses, but with a strong lineup that carried the Braves to 104 wins in 2023, the organization remains hopeful despite the setback.

Fans and teammates alike will be eagerly awaiting Strider's return, hoping that his recovery goes smoothly and he can resume his impressive form on the mound. Until then, the Braves will have to navigate the challenges of the 2024 season without their talented right-hander.