“It wasn't good, and you hate it,” Snitker said of Strider's news. “I hate it for him. I feel really bad for him. He's a kid who does everything right and likes to compete and everything. Just wait and see what they decide to do.”
The Braves didn't have much more information than they shared, but it appears the 25-year-old Strider's season is in jeopardy. If he needs Tommy John surgery, it will take 12 to 18 months to recover, and he likely won't play for the Braves again until next summer.
Asked if Tommy John surgery was a likely outcome at this point, Snitker said: “I don't know. (The medical staff) got all the results and they're now going to show it to the doctors, and I'm sure they'll have something in a few days.” .
After Friday's game, when Snitker announced that Stryder had developed elbow pain and would undergo an MRI, it seemed ominous. When talking about a pitcher, this type of upgrade is usually not good.
Thus, Saturday's news — that an MRI revealed damage to the anterior cruciate ligament in Strider's right elbow — was not surprising.
“Yes, you never expect these things to be good or just a blip on the screen,” Snitker said. “When someone has problems like this, we've seen it happen many times.”
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Has the Braves' medical staff said anything that could be considered positive news?
“No, I don’t really think so,” Snitker said. “The good news is that he'll get it all fixed and he'll come back and go on to have a really good career.”
In 2019, Strider underwent Tommy John surgery while playing at Clemson. He could soon undergo the procedure again – if that's what Meister recommends.
Regardless, Strider could miss at least a significant portion of this season. This is tough news for everyone who knows Strider and how much he cares about him.
“Oh my God, he’s so dedicated to his craft,” Snitker said. “I think he's one of those guys that loves everything about this, and does everything right, from being a great teammate, as a person, and just being dedicated to what he does and everything. I hate it for him, because he enjoys it so much.”
Texas Rangers right-hander Jacob deGrom is currently rehabilitating after the second Tommy John surgery of his career. Months ago, Dodgers shortstop Shohei Ohtani, who had Tommy John surgery earlier in his career, underwent another elbow surgery — but he wouldn't say if it was Tommy John.
Rangers right-hander Nathan Eovaldi is one of the success stories of pitchers who have undergone Tommy John procedures. Cubs righty Jameson Taillon is another player who has had that surgery twice and gone on to make his career.
Credit: AP
Credit: AP
On Saturday, the Braves did not call up anyone to replace Strider. They planned to play the bowler in one match. They have impressive top-three depth: Bryce Elder, AJ Smith-Shofer, Darius Vines, Dylan Dodd and Alan Winans. Hairston Waldrep could make his first appearance this season.
“We have some good options, and which way we go is going to be determined somewhat by how we get through today, tomorrow, etc.,” Snitker said.
Strider's injury is a huge blow for Atlanta. The Braves have a “World Series or bust” expectation, as Strider and others put it, but their right-hander is critical to their success. They have enough talent to make up for the loss, but Strider is almost irreplaceable. He is already the best offensive performer in the game and someone who seemed to be becoming a perennial Cy Young Award candidate.
On Friday, Strider allowed five runs over four innings against Arizona. He didn't look like himself. Its speed was low. He threw a four-seam fastball of 93.8 mph which was the second slowest fastball of his career (if you ignore a slower ball he threw while falling down the mound).
Snitker said Strider did not complain about his elbow during his debut. The manager even heard Strider tell someone he was out of the game because the Braves pulled him.
“I think if we had asked him to get back out there, he would have come back out there and kept playing,” Snitker said.
But after its onset, he reported discomfort in the elbow. The Braves sent him for an MRI, which revealed the worst for the pitcher:
UCL damage.
Now, we wait.
Is there optimism that he can return this season?
“I won't know until the doctors see him,” Snitker said.
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