Schwellenbach frustrated by need for elbow surgery after setbacks in rehab

ATLANTA -- After dealing with repeated setbacks over the past few months, Spencer Schwellenbach is set to undergo the surgery he tried to avoid when he fractured his right elbow last year.

“When you fracture your bone, the hopes are that it heals itself over six to eight weeks,” Schwellenbach said. “We gave it that time initially. Started playing catch again. Had issues last year and then gave it another three months. We were trying our best to avoid having to go in there, and then the same thing happened.”

Schwellenbach’s bid to pitch at some point this year officially ended earlier this week, when he was “barely able to feel his arm” near the end of a bullpen session at the Braves’ Spring Training complex in Florida.

This latest setback has left Schwellenbach no choice but to have a screw inserted to stabilize his right elbow. This was the procedure he and the Braves’ medical staff wanted to avoid when the 26-year-old hurler fractured his right elbow during a June 28 start against the Phillies last year.

Manny Parra, Joel Zumaya and Jason Adam are among those who have pitched at the big league level after having a screw inserted in their elbows. But it’s safe to say this procedure won’t guarantee Schwellenbach’s return, and it certainly won’t guarantee he might return as the same top-flight starter he was becoming before he was injured.

“This is something we were trying to avoid, but in my head for a while, I’ve known I’d likely have to get it done,” Schwellenbach said. “So I’ve been ready. It’s a little bit of a weight off my back. This is our option and we’re going to do it. There’s only one way to get back.”

Whether Schwellenbach could return at some point during the 2027 season will be determined over the weeks and months following the procedure.

“It's going to be a long haul, but he's got youth on his side and he’s got talent on his side,” Braves manager Walt Weiss said. “So, yeah, I'm optimistic.”

Schwellenbach’s four-seamer was sitting in the high 90s before he sustained the freak injury in 2025. He was concerned this past winter when he struggled to hit 90 mph with his heater. The discomfort he felt before the start of Spring Training led to the decision to have bone spurs removed from his elbow.

There was some hope Schwellenbach might return in July or August. But he repeatedly encountered setbacks that required a couple weeks of rest. He was encouraged when his fastball was recently clocked at 94 mph. But he could never avoid feeling the discomfort created by the elbow fracture.

“It was almost like every time I’d get to the finish line, I couldn’t get over the top,” Schwellenbach said.”