Spencer Strider is showing the whole country what Clemson toughness looks like. That grit, built right here in the dirt at Doug Kingsmore Stadium, is front and center for everyone to see.
If you watched the 'Quad God' mow down ACC hitters before he took his Clemson firepower to the Big Leagues, you know these last two years have tested our patience. Strider has battled through a UCL surgery in 2024 and hamstring trouble last season. But like any true Tiger, he’s fighting his way back—because that’s what we do.
Here’s the latest from Atlanta: Strider is packing his bags for the desert. The Braves’ ace will throw a huge bullpen session in Phoenix this Friday, and it’s a big test. If all goes well, it won’t be long before that famous mustache is back where it belongs—on a Major League mound.
The Road Back to the Bump
Strider’s been out for a few weeks with an oblique strain, which kept him from making his last spring start. He could come off the 15-day IL as soon as Monday, but manager Walt Weiss is playing it safe with Clemson’s own.
Weiss isn’t giving us a set date, saying Strider’s return depends on how much he’s lost while getting healthy. But there’s plenty of reason to be hopeful in Tiger Town. When asked about an early April rehab assignment, Weiss said it’s still on the table. And Strider isn’t just waiting around—he’s with the team, keeping his arm ready and his eyes on October.
All-Star Reinforcements
Strider isn’t the only All-Star working his way back. Catcher Sean Murphy is coming off hip surgery, already taking BP and getting back in the gear. While Strider gets ready for his bullpen in Phoenix, Murphy is off to High-A Rome for a sim game to get back in rhythm before his rehab starts for real.
The Braves know exactly what they’ve got in Strider. Even last year, fighting through injuries, he made 23 starts with a 4.45 ERA and racked up 131 strikeouts in just over 121 innings. That 10.3 K/9? That’s Clemson DNA—power, aggression, and never backing down.
The Verdict
The Braves start a series with the A’s on Monday, and even though Strider won’t be on the mound yet, you can feel the Tiger effect. Atlanta just isn’t the same without No. 65 lighting up the radar gun.
He’s lost a lot of time these last two years, but if anyone can come back and lead a rotation deep into October, it’s a guy built in Death Valley. Friday’s bullpen is just the start of the journey back to a title, and you can bet we’ll be cheering him on every step.