MLB Injury Comebacks: Spencer Strider and Two More Pitchers

The 2025 MLB season has turned into a fascinating story of perseverance and adaptation. Three prominent pitchers — Lance McCullers Jr., Spencer Strider, and Tony Gonsolin — are back on the mound after significant injuries.

These athletes are trying to regain their form while dealing with the physical and mechanical hurdles of recovery. Let’s take a closer look at how they’ve performed so far, the bumps in the road, and what could be next as they chase their old dominance.

Lance McCullers Jr.: Rediscovering the Art of Precision

Lance McCullers Jr. returned this season after right elbow surgery and another setback. In six starts, the Houston Astros pitcher has posted a 3.93 FIP — it’s not perfect, but it’s not disastrous either.

He’s striking out 29% of hitters, walking 11%, and flashing some of his old magic. But the road to full recovery? Still pretty bumpy.

Velocity and Command: A Balancing Act

McCullers’ velocity isn’t what it used to be. That drop has made his sinker and slider less effective, especially against right-handed hitters, and his FIP has climbed.

Early in the season, command issues made things worse. He’s also not getting as many ground balls as before, likely because hitters aren’t fooled by his slower stuff.

There’s some good news, though. Lately, his sinker placement looks sharper, which could help him make that pitch a bigger part of his game again.

His knuckle curve is starting to look nasty again, especially against lefties. If he keeps building confidence in those pitches, maybe he can get back to his old self.

Spencer Strider: A Battle with Command and Predictability

Spencer Strider, after UCL surgery, is off to a rocky start in 2025. Through four starts, the Atlanta Braves ace has a 6.39 FIP, a 23% strikeout rate, and a 10% walk rate.

It’s a big drop from his pre-surgery numbers. He’s clearly fighting to adapt to changes in his mechanics and pitch profile.

Velocity Dips But Movement Improves

Strider’s average velocity is down by 2 mph. For someone who used to blow hitters away with his fastball, that’s a tough break.

He’s getting more pitch movement, which sounds good on paper. But command issues and predictable pitch sequences have wiped out any advantage he might have gained.

Hitters are teeing off on his four-seamer and slider, and the hard-hit balls are piling up. If Strider wants to turn things around, he’ll need to mix up his approach and hit his spots better.

Tony Gonsolin: The Splitter’s Promise and Tunneling Trials

Tony Gonsolin, of the Los Angeles Dodgers, knows adversity all too well. After Tommy John surgery and a delayed season start thanks to a back injury, he’s still working to find his groove.

In seven starts, Gonsolin has a 5.96 FIP, a 24% strikeout rate, and a 12% walk rate. He’s piecing things together, but it’s a work in progress.

Tinkering with Mechanics and Results

Surprisingly, Gonsolin’s velocity is back to what it was before surgery. Changes in his arm slot and pitch tunneling, though, have made his control shaky, especially against left-handed hitters.

He’s using his splitter and curve more and relying less on his old slider. The splitter has worked well against righties, so there’s something there to build on.

But lefties are still giving him fits. If Gonsolin can iron out his mechanics and make smarter pitch choices, maybe he can find some consistency again.

The Path Forward: Progress, Patience, and Resilience

For McCullers Jr., Strider, and Gonsolin, the 2025 season means a lot more than just numbers on a stat sheet. It’s really about resilience and the ability to adapt when things get tough.

Each pitcher faces something different. McCullers wants to get back his ground-ball magic, Strider’s working on mixing movement with sharper command, and Gonsolin’s still tinkering with his mechanics and pitch choices.

The road to recovery isn’t straight. There are good days, setbacks, and sometimes just plain weird moments.

But honestly, the progress so far feels promising. If they keep working on command and find those sweet spots with their pitches, they might just claw their way back to the MLB elite before the season wraps.

I wouldn’t count them out. There’s still a lot of baseball left, and these comebacks/”>comeback stories? They’re nowhere near finished.

 
Here is the source article for this story: How three MLB pitchers, including Spencer Strider, are faring in their returns from injuries