The Braves introduced Monday that right-hander AJ Smith-Shawver underwent Tommy John surgical procedure that morning. He’ll miss the rest of the 2025 season and an excellent portion of the 2026 season as nicely, although a precise timetable will hinge on how his restoration proceeds. Typically, it’s greatest to imagine an absence of a minimum of 14 months, however each rehab varies.
Smith-Shawver’s harm places an early finish to what was initially wanting like a terrific rookie marketing campaign. Although he’d pitched within the majors in each 2023 and 2024, the 22-year-old righty narrowly retained that rookie standing heading into this season. He stormed out of the gate with a 2.33 ERA, 24.8% strikeout charge and 10.6% stroll charge in his first 38 2/3 innings, holding opponents to 2 or fewer runs in six of his first seven begins.
The Nationals shelled Smith-Shawver for seven runs in three innings on Might 22, nevertheless, and he departed his subsequent begin on Might 29 with an harm after simply 2 2/3 innings. It’s by no means encouraging when a pitcher departs as a result of elbow discomfort, and all indicators within the speedy aftermath proved more and more ominous. Smith-Shawver informed reporters after the sport that he’d felt a “pop” in his elbow. He was positioned on the 15-day IL with a pressure the identical day however transferred to the 60-day IL simply 18 hours later. Barely 24 hours after he’d exited with a coach, the Braves introduced that Smith-Shawver had been recognized with a torn ulnar collateral ligament.
With Smith-Shawver becoming a member of Reynaldo Lopez on the shelf — Lopez had arthroscopic shoulder surgical procedure in April however might probably return late within the 12 months — Atlanta’s pitching depth is more and more stretched. They presently have Chris Sale, Spencer Strider, Spencer Schwellenbach, Grant Holmes and Bryce Elder within the rotation. That’s a strong group on paper, however Strider hasn’t checked out all like himself in his first few video games again from his personal UCL restore.
The depth past that present quintet is a bit suspect. Davis Daniel and Nathan Wiles each have strong numbers with Triple-A Gwinnett and are on the 40-man roster, however they’re each comparatively soft-tossing righties who have been acquired in minor offseason swaps — Wiles for money this previous spring and Daniel for latest 14th-round decide Mitch Farris (after Daniel had been designated for project by the Angels). Hurston Waldrep, the Braves’ 2023 first-rounder and a former prime prospect, has had a disastrous season in Gwinnett. Non-roster depth arms like Ian Anderson, Zach Thompson and Jose Suarez have all already cleared waivers this season and struggled to various ranges in Gwinnett. Suarez lately landed on the minor league injured listing as nicely.
Trying long run, Smith-Shawver will accrue main league service time and pay whereas he rehabs from this morning’s surgical procedure. He’ll end out the season with greater than a 12 months of service time however gained’t be on monitor for Tremendous Two standing in arbitration. It’s additionally notable that as a result of he was solely within the minors for 16 days earlier this 12 months when Atlanta despatched him down, he gained’t exhaust what would have been his ultimate choice 12 months if he’d been despatched down later within the season. He’ll retain another minor league choice 12 months. Smith-Shawver can be on tempo for arbitration eligibility within the 2027-28 offseason and free of charge company within the 2030-31 offseason (although that remaining minor league choice might influence both trajectory).
