In a rare piece of positive news for a rotation ravaged by injuries, the Atlanta Braves have received a major update on the health of one of their most promising young starters.
Braves President of Baseball Operations Alex Anthopoulos confirmed through MLB insider Jon Morosi that promising right-hander Spencer Schwellenbach is now “pain-free” following his season-ending elbow injury.
The Pitcher and the Injury
- The Pitcher: Spencer Schwellenbach (the main character of this report) had a stellar start to his 2025 season, posting a 3.09 ERA and a 0.96 WHIP over 17 starts, becoming one of the team’s most reliable arms.
- The Injury: Schwellenbach was placed on the Injured List in early July with a fractured right elbow—a highly unusual injury for a pitcher that directly impacts the throwing arm.
Why This News is Critical for the Braves
The “pain-free” update is a massive relief for the Braves, who had all five of their Opening Day starters on the 60-day Injured List at the same time last season. Schwellenbach’s health provides one of the few certainties for the 2026 rotation:
- Rotation Lock: Schwellenbach is now expected to be healthy for Spring Training and is considered a lock for a rotation spot alongside Chris Sale and Spencer Strider.
- The Health Cliff: This news is contrasted by the other injury updates:
- AJ Smith-Shawver: Expected to miss the entire 2026 season recovering from Tommy John surgery.
- Reynaldo López: Recovering from shoulder surgery, but also reported he’s “pain-free” for the first time in years and is progressing.
- Grant Holmes: Attempting to rehab a UCL injury rather than undergo surgery.
The positive status update on Schwellenbach is a vital sign for a Braves organization that desperately needs pitching stability heading into the 2026 season.
The Braves rotation remains a top priority. Given the good news on Schwellenbach and the progress of Reynaldo López, would you like to review the latest news regarding the Braves’ pursuit of a starting pitcher trade target?
