Atlanta Braves starting pitcher Spencer Strider has emerged as one of baseball’s most dominant players in recent years. Despite his remarkable success, the young right-hander expressed a desire for a significant change: he prefers games without fans.
Speaking to the Instagram account MLB Fits at LoanDepot Park in Miami, Strider candidly shared his opinion, stating that he believes games would be better without the presence of fans due to the excessive noise. He emphasized the desire for silence, suggesting that the cheering is unnecessary as players are aware of the audience’s presence. Although he softened his stance later, proposing the removal of lower bowl seating and allowing outfield fans, he remained steadfast in his belief that fans should be kept away from the dugouts, at the very least.
This perspective contrasts with the 2020 MLB season, which was played without fans due to COVID-19 restrictions. Despite the league’s efforts to recover from the attendance decline caused by the pandemic, Strider expressed a preference for the fanless environment, despite his success in the current baseball landscape.
In 2022, Strider’s outstanding performance earned him second place in the NL Rookie of the Year race, boasting an impressive 11-5 record with a 2.67 ERA and 0.995 WHIP. He continued to excel in 2023, securing his first All-Star selection by posting a 19-5 record with a 3.81 ERA and a 1.073 WHIP.
Known for his impressive strikeout numbers, Strider has accumulated 476 strikeouts in just 315.2 career innings pitched. At 24 years old, he leads all of baseball with 274 strikeouts and 13.6 strikeouts per nine innings this season, ranking fourth all-time among starters in MLB history.
