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Atlanta Braves fans were already pumped up for the 2023 season, and that was before seeing this battle between Spencer Strider and Ronald Acuna Jr. Strider is entering his second MLB season and is already looking like one of the National League's best pitchers. A strong showing in practice against one of the league's top hitters is a testament to that fact.
Strider pitched for a 2.67 ERA in 2022, which would be incredible for any pitcher, let alone a rookie. He finished in second place in the NL Rookie of the Year voting, only behind his teammate Michael Harris. Seeing him arrive at spring training and immediately handle Acuna is certainly a confidence boost for the young pitcher.
David O'Brien of The Athletic shared a video of the at-bat to Twitter.
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Obviously it's early in spring training, but this is still an excellent sign of Strider's development. Having the confidence and ability to strike out a team's star can be daunting for young players. That wasn't so for Strider, who continues to show why he is one of the most exciting players the MLB has.
On the other hand, there is Ronald Acuna Jr. struggling at the plate. This situation favors the pitcher no doubt, as hitters often start slowly. With the World Baseball Classic coming up soon, it won't take Acuna much longer to get up to speed against top talent.
Pitching has never been more valuable in MLB than it is right now, and could determine the winner of the National League East. The Atlanta Braves are competing with the incredibly strong New York Mets and Philadelphia Phillies for the division crown. Whichever team's pitching rotation lives up to expectations could be the determing factor of who wins and who loses.
The Braves have a big season on the horizon, fueled by their superstar players playing like superstars in big moments.
What are the Atlanta Braves' expectations in 2023?
The Atlanta Braves are eyeing a run at the World Series after an offseason filled with strong moves. The team is built off a core of young but experienced players signed to team-friendly contracts. There is no reason to think that this team won't be a force to be reckoned with for years to come.
As the Atlanta Braves continue to prepare for the opening day, high expectations surround everything the team does.
