ATLANTA, Ga. (Atlanta News First) – Atlanta Braves right-hander Spencer Strider made his spring debut on Saturday, striking out two over two innings of work in the Braves’ 7-5 win over the Baltimore Orioles at Ed Smith Stadium.
It’s been a rough couple of seasons for Strider. Following his breakout 2023 campaign, Strider suffered a UCL injury that cost him nearly all of the 2024 season. In 2025, the 27-year-old posted a 4.45 ERA over 125.1 innings with 131 strikeouts — a sharp drop from 2023, when he led the league with 281 strikeouts in 186.2 innings.
But could we see another special season from Strider in 2026?
The Braves could certainly use it. Atlanta is already without Spencer Schwellenbach and Hurston Waldrep for the foreseeable future, and the rotation also features Reynaldo López and Grant Holmes, both of whom have dealt with recent injuries. That uncertainty makes a strong, healthy season from Strider all the more important.
Strider touched 94.3 mph and averaged 93.1 mph with his fastball on Saturday, emphasizing that he’s starting off slow and will casually ramp up as the regular season approaches.
Gil hits first spring homer
John Gil took Orioles right-hander Chayce McDermott deep in the eighth inning of Saturday’s win, a 368-foot shot that marked his first home run of the spring. Cal Conley and Chadwick Tromp followed suit, with solo shots of their own to put the Braves up 6-2.
Gil, who will be 20 in May, is one of Atlanta’s most intriguing prospects. He likely won’t reach the major leagues for another one or two seasons, but it’ll be interesting to see how he develops in the minor leagues. Nonetheless, he could make a serious impact with the team once he’s up.
Braves headed to WBC
The Atlanta Braves will be well represented at the upcoming World Baseball Classic, with several players set to compete on the international stage.
Outfielder Ronald Acuña Jr. will suit up for Venezuela, while Ozzie Albies, Jurickson Profar and Chadwick Tromp will represent the Netherlands. Team Netherlands will be managed by Braves legend and Hall of Famer Andruw Jones, with former Braves starter Jair Jurrjens serving as pitching coach.
The Netherlands roster will also feature Druw Jones — a prospect in the Arizona Diamondbacks organization and the son of Andruw Jones — giving the tournament an added family storyline as he plays under his father on the international stage. In addition, Braves prospect Nacho Alvarez Jr. is set to play for Mexico.
Teams will hold brief training camps and exhibition games against MLB clubs on March 3–4 before pool play begins March 5. Venezuela and the Netherlands are scheduled to meet March 6 in Miami, creating a compelling matchup between Braves teammates.
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