NORTH PORT, Fla. -- Braves manager Walt Weiss revealed Spencer Schwellenbach underwent an elbow cleanup surgery on Wednesday and that Hurston Waldrep will undergo a similar procedure on Monday.
The Braves aren’t providing a timeline to return for either starting pitcher. But with both slated to open the season on the 60-day IL, they’ll miss at least the first two months of the regular season.
But both should be cleared to pitch at some point this year, right?
“I’m not sure,” Weiss said. “We all hope for that. But you never know how these things go.”
Schwellenbach’s recovery might be the longer of the two given that he had bone spurs removed. Waldrep’s surgery will include the removal of loose bodies (cartilage or bone chips), a procedure that often doesn’t require as much time for the bone to heal.
It feels like everything has gone south for the Braves from a pitching perspective over the past year. They had six different starting pitchers, including Schwellenbach, miss at least six weeks last year. They still haven’t added the starting pitcher many of their fans have clamored for going back to November. And now, they know two of their top young starters will miss considerable time this year.
Schwellenbach’s bid to return from the right elbow fracture he suffered near the end of June was derailed on Jan. 30, when he felt elbow tightness at the end of a 20-pitch bullpen session in Atlanta.
The Braves were counting on Schwellenbach to be one of their top three starters this season.
Waldrep might have been targeted to begin the season in Triple-A because other rotation candidates are out of options, but there were still significant expectations for the 23-year-old right-hander, who posted a 2.88 ERA in 10 appearances (nine starts) last year.
In fact, Waldrep created a buzz on Feb. 12, when he flashed his great splitter and hit 99 mph during a live batting practice session. But he awoke with discomfort the next morning and went to Dallas this week, where noted surgeon Dr. Keith Meister scheduled the upcoming surgery.
How will these absences affect the Braves?
If the season started today, the rotation would likely consist of Chris Sale, Spencer Strider, Reynaldo López, Grant Holmes and either Bryce Elder or Joey Wentz. Holmes, Elder and Wentz are all out of options, meaning none of them can be sent to Triple-A without putting them through waivers, where they would likely be claimed by another club.
Veterans Carlos Carrasco and Martín Pérez signed Minor League deals to serve as rotation depth. Their presence might help the Braves buy some time as they wait for prospects like JR Ritchie (Atlanta’s No. 2 prospect, per MLB Pipeline) and Didier Fuentes (No. 7) to prove they are ready for the Major League level.
By the time Ritchie and Fuentes are ready, Schwellenbach and Waldrep could be back or at least nearing a return. There’s also a chance AJ Smith-Shawver could return from Tommy John surgery near the end of the upcoming season.
But it will certainly be a challenge for the Braves to get through the early months with the rotation depth depletion that began during Spring Training’s first week.
“There’s nothing you can do,” Weiss said. “These guys get hurt doing what they do. You go out there and pitch enough, at some point, something is bound to happen. So I don't beat my head against the wall with stuff like this. I just know it's part of the deal. I wish it hadn't happened. But, we put our heads down and keep going.”