Braves' Spencer Strider Earns Defiant Declaration From Coach Despite Velocity Dip

Braves pitcher Spencer Strider has impressed his coach despite a drop in his fastball velocity.

Mar. 12, 2026 at 2:21pm

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Atlanta Braves pitcher Spencer Strider has received praise from his coach, Jeremy Hefner, despite a dip in his velocity. Strider struggled in 2025 after returning from an elbow injury that sidelined him for much of the 2024 season. His fastball velocity has dropped from an average of 97.2 mph to 94.8 mph, but Hefner believes Strider can still be a successful pitcher by mixing in more secondary pitches.

Why it matters

Strider was one of the Braves' best pitchers in 2023, going 20-5 with a 3.86 ERA and 281 strikeouts. The team is hoping he can regain that form and be a key part of their rotation this season. If Strider can adapt his approach to compensate for the loss of velocity, it could be a major boost for the Braves as they look to contend for another division title.

The details

Strider struggled in 2025, going 7-14 with a 4.45 ERA after returning from an elbow injury that sidelined him for much of the 2024 season. His fastball velocity has dropped from an average of 97.2 mph to 94.8 mph, but Braves coach Jeremy Hefner believes Strider can still be successful by mixing in more secondary pitches. In a recent Spring Training outing, Strider tossed four shutout innings, striking out five batters.

  • Strider missed the majority of the 2024 season due to an elbow injury.
  • In 2023, Strider went 20-5 with a 3.86 ERA and 281 strikeouts.
  • In 2025, Strider struggled, going 7-14 with a 4.45 ERA.
  • Strider recently tossed four shutout innings in a Spring Training game, striking out five batters.

The players

Spencer Strider

A starting pitcher for the Atlanta Braves who has seen a dip in his fastball velocity after returning from an elbow injury.

Jeremy Hefner

The pitching coach for the Atlanta Braves who has praised Strider's ability to adapt and mix in more secondary pitches despite the loss of velocity.

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What they’re saying

“You get backed into a corner because you don't have the same stuff you did before, and you have to figure out a way. So that's a credit to Spencer and his willingness to try new things and try to figure out how to be the best version of himself to help the team win.”

— Jeremy Hefner, Braves Pitching Coach

What’s next

Strider will have more chances to ramp things up in Spring Training as he looks to regain his form from 2023 and help the Braves contend for another division title.

The takeaway

This situation highlights Strider's resilience and adaptability as he looks to overcome a velocity dip and find new ways to be successful. If he can successfully mix in more secondary pitches, it could be a major boost for the Braves as they aim to return to the playoffs.