NL DIVISION SERIES: PHILLIES VS BRAVES

October 10, 2022

Alex Anthopoulos

Spencer Strider

Truist Park

Atlanta Braves

Workout Day Press Conference

ALEX ANTHOPOULOS: Just want to thank Terry McGuirk for signing off on all these deals. Derek Braunecker at Frontline Sports as well. And obviously the player to my right, obviously, for deciding to make a commitment to being here. We're really excited about it.

And we're excited about the series to come. From there, if you have comments or we can go straight to Q&A.

SPENCER STRIDER: I just like to reiterate, very grateful for Alex and Terry obviously and Frontline as well. Derek who was very helpful in this whole endeavor. I'd like to thank them. And I'm just excited to know that I'll be here and continue to go out there and win.

Q. Alex, what was the point to get this done before the postseason? Is it just to get it out of the way and get that distraction done or why now?

ALEX ANTHOPOULOS: It could have been done a week ago or two weeks ago. The process started in September, I guess, I don't remember the exact time, but I think September, beginning of September. So sometimes these things just take a little time and they go back and forth. But we're grateful that it got done.

And I do think we were not going to talk past -- today was going to be the day just because the way the MLB works with announcements. And after this morning, the focus is absolutely on the team.

It is on the team regardless. But we did -- if it wasn't getting done by last night/this morning at the latest, we would have just maybe talked about it some other time.

Q. I feel we're asking this question a lot this year but when you consider the other guys that Alex has locked up that will be long term here, where's the level of excitement in just what you think this team can do when you stay together as long as you could?

SPENCER STRIDER: That's sort of the motivation in trying to get something like this done is just to be around the guys that he has put together and the commitment to winning not just right now but in the future with the guys that are in this clubhouse is very obvious and that means a lot to me. It's very cool and humbling to have the opportunity to stay here.

Q. This brings a lot of pressure. You've done this and people are going to have those expectations, and that's the thing I ask you about living up to that. Do you feel pressure to that now you have this contract?

SPENCER STRIDER: I mean, not at all, really. My goal is always to outperform any expectations. There's nobody that has higher aspirations or expectations for performance than myself. And so in that way I don't feel any pressure. The expectation is that I outperform any contract I ever sign.

So no, not at all. I'm just excited that there's some security in knowing I'll be here with these guys in this clubhouse. And go out and keep doing what we've been doing.

Q. I think about where you were just maybe a year ago to where you are now. How would you describe just the thought of this is where you would have wanted to be, your future, your career and in essence is kind of solidified at this point. But I know for a while that's kind of a dream to be at this point. How would you consider that journey?

SPENCER STRIDER: I mean, my bigger accomplishment to me is just getting to be on this team and go to the playoffs and obviously that starts tomorrow. And last year I got called up at the end and wanted to make the postseason team and didn't. And so my motivation this year was to try and get that done this year. And it felt like we have a good team, obviously. And we're excited to get going here. And that's where my focus is and ours as a group.

Q. Spencer, you get a chance to sign this contract but you've got all these guys in here celebrating with you. This year so far how cool has it been to merge with these guys and get connected? How cool is it to have these guys in here supporting you?

SPENCER STRIDER: Means everything in the world. That's the motivation in trying to get something like this done is to be here and stay with the people that I come to work with every day. And I couldn't imagine being anywhere else. And it's the people that really make this a great place.

Q. What's been the most fulfilling part for you since the journey through Tommy John rehab?

SPENCER STRIDER: I guess just continually seeing like that go behind me and not having to really deal with the frustration of the injury and more so enjoy the benefits or the things that I was able to take away from it.

Q. How are you feeling health-wise; what have you been doing the last few days?

SPENCER STRIDER: I feel great. Threw off the mound yesterday. I haven't done anything today. So we're still waiting to get out there and do our work for today and see how that goes. But those decisions and everything will be up to the team, of course, and how we want to plan for the series and stuff. I feel good, and hopefully it keeps trending in that direction.