Braves ace Spencer Strider begins recovery from elbow surgery, says team can win World Series
ATLANTA (AP) – Atlanta Braves ace Spencer Strider began to feel discomfort in his right elbow in spring training but didn’t realize the severity of the injury until learning he needed season-ending surgery.
Strider said he had a bone fragment develop following Tommy John surgery in 2019 that caused the ulnar collateral ligament to become unstable. Strider also said he did not have a tear that required a second Tommy John surgery and he instead had an internal brace procedure, perhaps giving him a better opportunity to recover for the start of the 2025 season.
Strider finally complained about the issue after pitching four innings in Atlanta´s 6-5 win over Arizona on April 5.
“You´re not going to feel good when you´re playing baseball every day,” Strider said Friday while standing in front of his locker in his first news conference since the surgery. “So I´m not searching for that. You know, like I said, I´m going to pitch through anything if I feel like I can help the team and I felt like I couldn´t do that anymore, so I thought it´s time to say something.”
An MRI the next day revealed damage to his UCL. Texas Rangers physician Dr. Keith Meister performed the procedure on April 13.
“They´re theorizing that I tore some connective tissue … and that´s what destabilized the ligament,” Strider said. “And maybe I blew through the last of that on that game and things deteriorated pretty quickly throughout the outing.”
Strider was Atlanta’s No. 1 starting pitcher after going 20-5 with 281 strikeouts in last year, when he led the major leagues in wins and strikeouts.
With his right arm immobilized in a sling, Strider said he will look for ways to support his teammates.
“These guys don´t don´t need me to to win a World Series,” he said. “So you know they´re going to pursue that journey. I´ll be here here to cheer them on.”
Replacing Strider will be a challenge.
Right-hander Allan Winans allowed seven runs – six earned – over five innings in a 16-15 loss to the New York Mets on April 11 and was optioned to Triple-A Gwinnett after the game.
Right-hander Darius Vines had more success, allowing one run and four hits with four strikeouts in 4 2/3 innings of a 6-1 win at Houston on Monday. Vines is scheduled to make his second start of the season on Sunday night against Texas.
