By age 24, former Clemson Tiger Spencer Strider was Atlanta’s golden boy. His rookie season put him on All-Star radars. By 2023, he was a Cy Young candidate, the strikeout king, and the face of a rotation chasing championships. Comparisons to Pedro Martínez and Randy Johnson weren’t hyperbole — they were earned.
That’s what makes his 2025 struggles sting so much. He isn’t just struggling; he’s failing to live up to impossible expectations. A 5–12 record, an ERA pushing 5.00, and a declining strikeout rate aren’t the marks of an ace.
The Brutal Honesty of Strider
“If I had an answer, I’d certainly have done it by now,” Strider told reporters after one of his August meltdowns.