Atlanta Braves’ Spencer Strider Reaches 500 Career Strikeouts in Record Time

Spencer Strider made his long-awaited return from elbow surgery when the Atlanta Braves faced the Toronto Blue Jays on Wednesday, notching his 500th career strikeout in the fifth inning.

Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Atlanta Braves starting pitcher Spencer Strider (99) pitches to the Toronto Blue Jays during the first inning at Rogers Centre. | John E. Sokolowski-Imagn Images

The Atlanta Braves got their ace back Wednesday, and he immediately resumed etching his name in the history books.

Spencer Strider took the mound in an MLB game for the first time in 376 days, just over a year removed from the internal brace procedure he underwent to repair the torn UCL in his throwing elbow. The 26-year-old right-hander struck out the first two Toronto Blue Jays batters he faced, dealing 97 mile-per-hour fastballs right out of the gates.

To open up the bottom of the fifth, Strider recorded his fifth strikeout of the afternoon. That made it 500 for his career, and is took him just 334.0 innings to get there.

According to MLB.com's Sarah Langs, that is the fewest innings it has taken any pitcher who was primarily a starter to reach 500 strikeouts.

The previous record-holder was Milwaukee Brewers right-hander Freddy Peralta, who achieved the feat in 372.0 innings. Shohei Ohtani, Tyler Glasnow, Dylan Cease and José Fernández are the only other players who did so in 400.0 or fewer innings.

Spencer Strider reached 500 strikeouts in 334 IP!

That’s the fewest innings to 500 K of any pitcher who started in at least 50% of his app by the time of his 500th strikeout

h/t @EliasSports https://t.co/nfTrzAeIAP

— Sarah Langs (@SlangsOnSports) April 16, 2025

Strider gave up a leadoff home run to Vladimir Guerrero Jr. in the sixth, ultimately getting pulled before he could record another out. He allowed five hits, a walk and two earned runs by the time his day was done, all without any run support from Atlanta's lineup.

Between spring training and his rehab starts in Triple-A, Strider had posted a 2.04 ERA, 0.736 WHIP and 18.8 strikeouts per nine innings in the leadup to his regular season debut. He was 32-10 with a 3.37 ERA, 1.054 WHIP, 13.6 strikeouts per nine innings and a 6.8 WAR in his MLB career prior to his injury.

Strider showed he still has that stuff one year post-op, but the Braves lost 3-1 and dropped their three-game series with the Blue Jays on Wednesday nonetheless.

Related MLB Stories

• PIRATES RESUME SLUMP: After getting shut out by the Nationals on Tuesday, the Pirates' batting average, on-base percentage and slugging percentage reached lows not seen in MLB since 2003. CLICK HERE

• NG NAMED AUSL COMMISH: Kim Ng, who became the first woman in MLB history to serve as a team's general manager, is set to take over the Athletes Unlimited Softball League in 2025. CLICK HERE

• BREGMAN STUFFS STAT SHEET: Alex Bregman went 5-for-5 with two home runs against the Rays on Tuesday, putting the Red Sox third baseman in the company of Andrew Benintendi, Dustin Pedroia and Jackie Bradley Jr. CLICK HERE

Follow Fastball On SI on social media

Continue to follow our Fastball On SI coverage on social media by liking us on Facebook and by following us on Twitter @FastballFN.

You can also follow Sam Connon on Twitter @SamConnon.