CBS Sports listed their breakout star for each team in 2022, and in what I believe was a good pick, they chose RHP Spencer Strider:
CBS chose Spencer Strider as the #Braves “breakout candidate” for this season: pic.twitter.com/xuiNoVmik7
— Braves Moves and Rumors (@Braves_Rumors) March 22, 2022
#Braves prospect Spencer Strider figuring prominently on today's early Statcast leaderboard. You could expand that velo board to eight, and it'd still be all him. pic.twitter.com/cSfigyH7AN
— Sam Dykstra (@SamDykstraMiLB) March 22, 2022
Here’s what CBS Sports had to say about Strider:
The defending world champions won’t provide many opportunities to unproven quantities. We think Strider, who appeared in two games late last season, will get a chance and make the most of it. His combination of a quick arm and a deep release point gave him an effective velocity of 98.4 mph, making his fastball an elite pitch on those grounds. He’s also nurtured an above-average slider thanks to an appreciable understanding of pitch design. The Braves should continue to develop Strider as a starter, but he could be an asset in the bullpen on a moment’s notice.
I’m a big fan of Strider’s — he was a great pickup by the Braves in the 2020 MLB draft with limited picks due to COVID. He could be the closer of the future in Atlanta, but I don’t think the club has ruled out him potentially blossoming into a starter, which is a scary thought. Strider can touch 100 mph with ease and has proven to be a strikeout maestro thanks to his wipeout slider. I thought he had a shot at the 2021 playoff roster, but I’m perfectly fine with the outcome. Watch out for him in 2022.
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