NORTH PORT, Fla. -- Instead of distancing themselves from the injury woes that significantly limited them the past two seasons, the Braves started Spring Training by revealing Spencer Schwellenbach will miss at least the first two months of the regular season because of bone spurs in his right elbow.
“I always say, before a season even starts, your pitching depth is going to get tested,” Braves manager Walt Weiss said. “It's inevitable, you know. But you’d rather not have it happen right away in February.”
The good news is that tests have shown Schwellenbach’s ulnar collateral ligament in his right elbow is structurally sound. But even though he likely won’t need surgery, he was placed on the 60-day injured list on Tuesday to make room for catcher Jonah Heim, who signed a one-year deal.
So, the Braves will be without Schwellenbach until at least late May and likely longer. The 25-year-old hurler went through the winter months confident he would make a full recovery from the fractured right elbow that sidelined him for the final three months of the 2025 season. But his optimism faded less than two weeks ago when he felt discomfort after a side session.
“He was doing great,” Weiss said. “He was throwing bullpens, and everything was great. The last bullpen he threw was a week and a half ago or so, and it wasn't great. That's when the red flags went off. So we're hoping for the best. He's a legitimate top-of-the-rotation type guy. It hurts to lose a guy like that, but we've got some talented arms in camp and some capable guys that are going to get opportunities.”
This is not exactly how Weiss envisioned his first day of Spring Training as Atlanta’s manager. But the 1988 American League Rookie of the Year has been around the game long enough to know even the most successful baseball seasons are littered with inevitable pitfalls.
So, as Weiss watched Braves pitchers and catchers go through their first workout of the year on Tuesday, he was looking at some of the starters who now have a much better chance of beginning the season in Atlanta’s rotation.
If the season were to begin today, Chris Sale, Spencer Strider, Reynaldo López and Grant Holmes could fill the first four spots.
The fifth starter candidates would be Bryce Elder, Joey Wentz and Hurston Waldrep. Before assuming Waldrep’s late-season success last year would give him an edge, remember that Elder, Wentz and Holmes are all out of options.
Given that the organization’s depth has already been tested, there would be an even greater need to hold on to Elder and Wentz as long as possible.
And even before Schwellenbach’s ailment was revealed, there was a lot of buzz about the Braves needing to add a starting pitcher. Does Schwellenbach’s situation enhance the possibility Braves president of baseball operations Alex Anthopoulos will land Chris Bassitt, Lucas Giolito or another experienced starting pitcher?
“I know Alex has already been [searching],” Weiss said. “There’s no doubt in my mind that Alex is on the phone doing whatever he can. Whether anything comes of it, I don’t know. But I know Alex is in relentless pursuit of improving this roster.”
Schwellenbach showed his great potential in 2024, when he began the year at the High-A level and then posted a 3.35 ERA over 21 big league starts. He ranked among the league leaders in innings pitched while posting a 3.09 ERA in 17 starts last year before he got injured. He posted a 2.60 ERA over his final 10 starts.
“I feel for Spencer more than anything else,” Weiss said. “You know, the kid did some amazing things in a short time, and still a bright future ahead of him.”