"Brandon Nimmo is like a ghost looming in the corner of my room" - Spencer Strider opens up about facing Mets star
Spencer Strider is an up-and-coming ace for the Atlanta Braves who missed almost the entire 2024 season after undergoing surgery to repair his right elbow UCL in April. The 26-year-old pitcher earned his first All-Star selection a year before and will be a key pitcher for the club in 2025.
Like every pitcher, even Strider has some hitters he feels uncomfortable pitching against. In an interview with the "Casa De Klub" podcast on Tuesday, he gave two names and one of them was New York Mets star Brandon Nimmo, who holds a great record against the Braves ace.
Strider has allowed eight hits, two home runs and three walks while recording two strikeouts against Nimmo in his career. Talking about it on the podcast, Strider said (25:08 onwards):
"There are plenty of them. Brandon Nimmo is like a ghost looming in the corner of my room at night. I gave up a home run to him in my debut on a two-strike slider down and in, off the plate. I was like, 'All right, well, that never happened in Double-A, not one time. So, this is definitely a different level.' Ever since then, I think I’ve gotten him out maybe twice.
"He’s the leadoff guy for the Mets, so it’s like, right out of the gate, I have to deal with the most difficult hitter I face. He’s an impressive guy to me."
Spencer Strider names Juan Soto the most intimidating hitter in baseball
The newest New York Mets signee, Juan Soto, hits the plate differently. His presence on it, especially the shuffle to intimidate opposing pitchers, is well known. Strider is among those who get swayed by Soto's confidence at the plate.
"Then there’s Juan Soto, another one—not that I’m unique in this—who just gets in my head. He steps in the box knowing it, and I start throwing harder," Strider said.
"It’s fun; I appreciate him as a player for what he’s able to do. I think he just raises guys’ level of competitiveness, and obviously, that’s the kind of competitor he is. We saw it in the playoffs."
Spencer Strider has allowed two hits and three walks to Juan Soto in his career.