Three pitchers that have shined during spring training
We are about a week away from Opening Day and that means rosters are starting to take shape and players are being told what level they will start the new season.
While spring training isn't the only factor in making these decisions, having a standout performance can help bolster your chances of making the team out of camp.
Here are three pitchers that have made the most out of their spring.
Spencer Strider, Atlanta Braves
2024 spring training stats: 3-0, 0.00 ERA, 0.96 WHIP and 29 strikeouts in 18.2 innings pitched
It is not too often that a top-of-the-rotation pitcher is one of the players that have shown the most improvement during spring training, but the only 20-game winner in baseball last season Atlanta Braves pitcher Spencer Strider has done just that.
The 25-year-old right-hander has featured a new curveball that he worked on this offseason and has been dominant during spring, currently 3-0 with zero runs allowed while striking out 29 batters in 18.2 innings pitched.
Coming off a season where he finished fourth in the National League Cy Young award voting, Strider has had a tremendous start to his young career with a 32-10 record, 3.37 ERA, 1.05 WHIP and 483 strikeouts in 320.2 innings pitched.
He will look to continue to add to his dominant stretch in 2024.
Matt Waldron, San Diego Padres
2024 spring training stats: 1-0, 1.35 ERA, 0.98 WHIP and 11 strikeouts in 13.1 innings pitched
One of the best stories out of spring is San Diego Padres pitcher Matt Waldron, possessing a knuckleball that has been giving hitters trouble he has all but secured a spot in the Padres rotation to open the 2024 season.
Making his MLB debut last season, Waldron made eight appearances including six starts going 1-3 with a 4.35 ERA while striking out 31 batters in 41.1 innings pitched.
A rare pitcher in today's game, Waldron uses the knuckleball as his primary pitch with a 91 mph fastball to help keep hitters off-balance at the plate.
Acquired in the 2020 trade with the Cleveland Guardians that also sent pitcher Mike Clevinger to the Padres, Waldron has developed into quite the surprise after being a throw-in prospect in the deal.
Waldron will look to continue his rise this season.
Zack Thompson, St. Louis Cardinals
2024 spring training stats: 1-1, 2.25 ERA, 0.75 WHIP and 12 strikeouts in 12 innings pitched
After the St. Louis Cardinals added multiple new faces to their starting rotation including 2023 American League Cy Young Award runner-up Sonny Gray, one of the answers to their rotation problems might have been with them all along.
Used in a hybrid role in 2023 making 25 appearances including nine starts, the 26-year-old left-hander went 5-7 with a 4.48 ERA including 72 strikeouts in 66.1 innings pitched.
This spring he has gone 1-1 with a 2.25 ERA while striking out 12 batters in 12 innings pitched, in his most recent start he threw four no-hit innings and is primed to give the Cardinals solid innings no matter the role.
With a rotation full of question marks, Thompson could find himself with a rotation spot during the 2024 season.
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