Clemson baseball: Spencer Strider continues to dominate MLB

Clemson baseball alumni Spencer Strider continues to dominate in a starter’s role, striking out 13, walking 1, giving up a single run and only 3 hits in 6.2 innings Tuesday night against the Philadelphia Phillies in the Braves 13-1 win.

Strider has appeared in 23 games, including 12 starts, for the World Champion Braves in 2022, accumulating a 6-3 record, 2.79 ERA and 0.99 WHIP.

Strider has an amazing 133 strikeouts in 87 innings pitched on the season.

As good as his traditional statistics are, Strider’s advanced numbers are off the charts.

Strider’s xBA against (.189), xSLG (.299), wOBA (.234), xwOBA (.257) and xERA (2.66) are all in the top 9% of the league, while his K% of 38.3% is in the top 1%.

While Strider relies mostly (68.5%) on his dominating, 98.2 MPH four seam fastball, his secondary pitches may be even better.

Opponents are batting only .171 on his slider that he uses 26.2% of the time and that pitch actually has better PutAway% and Whiff% than the fastball.

Mixing in the occasional changeup (5.2%) in which has held opposition to a 1 for 14 total and it’s not a surprise to see Strider’s success.

Strider pitched at Clemson in 2018 and 2020, missing the 2019 campaign due to Tommy John surgery.

Strider was 5-2 with a 4.71 ERA with 89 strikeouts and 38 walks in 63 innings pitched with the Tigers.

Spencer Strider is must see TV each time he pitches and has been quite the bargain for the Atlanta Braves

The 23 year old Strider was the Braves fourth round pick in the 2020 MLB draft and through a combination of the pandemic wiping out the 2020 season and his performance only totaled 94 minor league innings before debuting with Atlanta late last year.

The Braves signed Strider for $449,300 and he’s making $710,000 this season, which is an incredible value for what Strider brings to the Braves each time he pitches.

It’s a relatively common occurrence for MLB teams to sign younger players to long-term extensions prior to them hitting free agency in a deal that provides young players financial stability and guaranteed income if injured or performance tanks, but it also adds incredible long term value for the teams.

Due to the higher possibility of injury, this occurs less with pitchers, but one has to wonder if the Braves would consider this type of deal with the way Strider is performing, though his personal injury history would be a concern.