Atlanta Braves right-hander Spencer Strider made a strong comeback on the mound Monday, striking out six of the eight Boston batters he faced in a flawless 2 2/3 innings. Returning after surgery on his ulnar collateral ligament last April, Strider displayed his talent with a stellar performance in the Grapefruit League game against the Red Sox in North Port, Fla. The 26-year-old expressed his joy at being back in action, describing it as a rewarding test of his hard work. Despite a brief confusion about the number of outs in an inning, Strider’s impressive track record includes a 32-10 record with a 3.47 ERA in 67 games since his debut in 2021. He has struck out 495 batters in 329 2/3 innings and earned recognition as the National League Rookie of the Year runner-up in 2022. In 2023, Strider was named an All-Star and led the league in wins and strikeouts.
