4 Facts You Didn’t Know About Spencer Strider

Spencer Strider is breaking all sorts of strikeout records this year. Most recently, he broke his own record for the fastest pitcher to reach 200 Ks in a single season. The Columbus, Ohio native has always been a somewhat enigmatic character. The brains, the mustache, the niche interests and the stoicism all add up to one of baseball’s great personalities.

What is the Atlanta Braves‘ all-star starter really about, though? What does he do when he’s not dominating hitters with his elite fastball?

In this post, we take a look at 5 facts you didn’t know about Spencer Strider, your favorite weirdo athlete.

1: Strider Has A Music Obsession

I know what you’re thinking. We’re all music-obsessed, Travis. I get it. But Spencer is on a different level than your average audiophile.

In an interview with MLB YouTuber Foolish Bailey, Strider revealed an entire algorithmic process to determine the most significant albums by a given band. Not only does it account for all the sonic factors, it also considers the cultural importance of a given record.

In the interview, Strider and Bailey focus on The Strokes, and share their respective tier lists for the band’s LPs.

Bonus fact: Spencer Strider, known Seinfeld enjoyer? Yes. The Braves ace’s ranking method is known as The Art Vandelay Ranking System, a nod to George Costanza’s “professional” alter-ego, and owner of the fictitious Vandelay Industries.

2: Spencer Loves Lemons

During this year’s All-Star festivities, MLB interviewed various players to get some insight on their personalities. Among the questions were things like: “do you like boneless wings?” and also: “if you could have a lifetime supply of anything . . .?”

Braves third-basemen Austin Riley stayed practical, suggesting he’d take a permanently full gas tank. Brent Rooker? Golf balls. Corbin Burnes? Shoes. Spencer Strider? Lemons.

Huh?

Strider has been fully vegan since 2019. He’s open about his commitment to a healthy lifestyle, which is no doubt apparent in his now-famous quadriceps that earned him the nickname “Quadzilla.”

Apparently, Strider’s lifeblood is lemon-water. He drinks it every morning. “We always run out of lemons,” he said, “and I get really mad.” All I’m saying is, someone better make sure Spencer gets his lemons ASAP. We don’t want any citrus-based rage to affect his performance.

Oddly enough, Strider wasn’t the only player to answer that question with a fruit. First year Minnesota Twin Pablo Lopez said he wanted a lifetime supply of mangoes. He also claimed that mangoes are somehow tastier “when someone slices [them] for you.”

I’m going to have to try that one out.

3: He Didn’t Start Out With a Four-Seam Fastball

Strider has already made a career out of his four-seam fastball. He throws it 59% of the time. It’s hard to imagine him pitching without it.

It turns out, though, that Spencer initially had a two-seamer. It wasn’t until his return from Tommy John Surgery that he began to throw the four-seam consistently.

That, along with a new proclivity for pitching at the top of the zone, has played a major role in his recent dominance.

4: #99 Doesn’t Mean What You Might Think

If you were to watch Spencer Strider pitch, you might think that his jersey number is indicative of the speed at which he throws most of his fastballs. Perhaps you even associate it with AL MVP Aaron Judge.

However, the choice is actually a representation of another of Strider’s interests: films. In this case, the number refers to the movie Major League, where pitcher Rick Vaughn (played by Charlie Sheen) dons the double 9.

Although Vaughn doesn’t have a mustache in the film, there are definitely some similarities between the two players. Both feature incredibly fast pitching, and both appear to be really smart (just look at those glasses on Charlie Sheen).

Anyway, Strider pitches tonight in Game 2 of the double header between the Braves and the New York Mets. He looks to rebound after a rough start in Pittsburgh in which he went 2 2/3 innings and gave up 5 ERs.