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Atlanta optioned Smith-Shawver to Triple-A Gwinnett after Wednesday's game against the Mets.
Smith-Shawver gave up two runs on four hits and two walks while striking out four batters in 4.1 innings during the first game of Wednesday's twin bill. It marked his first time pitching in the majors since undergoing Tommy John surgery in June 2025. However, his time with the big club will be short-lived, and he'll now return to Triple-A, where he posted a 1.69 ERA, 1.57 WHIP and 12:5 K:BB in 10.2 innings during his rehab assignment. The 23-year-old righty figures to be a favorite to return to Atlanta if its rotation depth is tested during the final months of the season.
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Braves' AJ Smith-Shawver: Activated ahead of start Wednesday
Rotowire
Atlanta activated Smith-Shawver (elbow) from the 60-day injured list Wednesday.
Smith-Shawver will start the first game of Wednesday's doubleheader versus the Mets in what will be his first outing in the majors since he underwent Tommy John surgery in June 2025. The right-hander looked sharp in five rehab starts, collecting a 1.53 ERA and 21:5 K:BB over 17.2 innings. Smith-Shawver threw 86 pitches in his final rehab outing with Triple-A Gwinnett last Thursday, so he should be capable of working long enough in Wednesday's start to qualify for a win. He's not currently scheduled for any additional starts with Atlanta, but Smith-Shawver could force his way into the club's immediate plans if he pitches well Wednesday.
Braves' AJ Smith-Shawver: Will start first game of twin bill
Rotowire
Smith-Shawver (elbow) is expected to be activated from the 60-day injured list to start the first game of Wednesday's doubleheader against the Mets, Mark Bowman of MLB.com reports.
Smith-Shawver had been slated for one more rehab start, but Atlanta will have him make his 2026 debut with the big club instead after a rainout Tuesday created a doubleheader Wednesday. The right-hander has been excellent in five rehab outings, posting a 1.53 ERA and 21:5 K:BB over 17.2 innings. Smith-Shawver went four frames and threw 77 pitches in his last rehab start with Triple-A Gwinnett last Thursday, so he will likely have a somewhat truncated workload versus the Mets. He'll be making his first start in the majors since he underwent Tommy John surgery in June 2025.
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Braves' AJ Smith-Shawver: One more rehab start expected
Rotowire
Smith-Shawver (elbow) is expected to make one more rehab start before being activated from the injured list, Ian Quillen of MLB.com reports.
Over four innings and 86 pitches (54 strikes) for Triple-A Gwinnett on Thursday, the 23-year-old right-hander allowed just one unearned run on two hits and one walk while striking out five. Smith-Shawver has a 12:5 K:BB in 10.2 rehab innings for Gwinnett with a 1.69 ERA, but it's not yet clear if Atlanta will immediately add him to the big-league rotation once his IL stint is done -- the team is actively shopping for starting pitching at the trade deadline, and Smith-Shawver has a minor-league option remaining. If Atlanta doesn't bring in outside reinforcements, however, he could be an option to replace the struggling Reynaldo Lopez (nine runs allowed in 9.1 innings over his last two outings).
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Braves' AJ Smith-Shawver: Looks sharp in latest rehab start
Rotowire
Smith-Shawver (elbow) allowed four hits and one walk while striking out five across 4.1 scoreless innings during his rehab start Saturday with Triple-A Gwinnett.
Smith-Shawver generated 13 whiffs on 72 pitches (43 strikes), and his fastball touched just over 99 mph during Saturday's rehab outing. His rehab assignment is set to run out July 29, so he could make at least a couple of more starts in the minors if Atlanta wants him to build up his pitch count further. Smith-Shawver is working his way back from Tommy John surgery, which he underwent last June.
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Braves' AJ Smith-Shawver: Not ready for activation
Rotowire
Smith-Shawver (elbow) will make at least one more rehab start with Triple-A Gwinnett, Ken Sugiura of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports.
Smith-Shawver is in the final stages of his recovery from June 2025 Tommy John surgery. but he's not quite there yet. The 23-year-old right-hander built up to 58 pitches (28 strikes) with Gwinnett on Saturday, but the results weren't pretty as he gave up two runs on five hits and three walks over 2.1 innings. On the bright side, his fastball sat 95-97 mph and topped out at 98.7 mph before he began to fade in his third and final frame. Smith-Shawver's rehab assignment runs out July 29, and if Atlanta decides to max that out, he could fit in three more starts before coming off the IL.
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Braves' AJ Smith-Shawver: Moving up to Gwinnett
Rotowire
Smith-Shawver (elbow) will make his next rehab start Saturday with Triple-A Gwinnett, Chad Bishop of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports.
The 23-year-old right-hander is closing in on his return to the big-league rotation following Tommy John surgery in June 2025. Smith-Shawver has made two rehab starts for Single-A Augusta, producing a 9:0 K:BB over seven innings while allowing just one run, and he built up to 46 pitches in his most recent outing July 5. He'll likely need at least two more rehab starts before Atlanta considers activating him, giving him a chance to make his 2026 debut before the end of the month.
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Braves' AJ Smith-Shawver: Stellar in latest rehab start
Rotowire
Smith-Shawver (elbow) struck out five and allowed two hits and no walks over four scoreless innings in a rehab start Sunday with Single-A Augusta.
Nearing the finish line in his recovery from June 2025 Tommy John surgery, Smith-Shawver has looked sharp through two rehab outings with Augusta, spinning seven innings of one-run ball while posting a 9:0 K:BB. He'll likely move up to a higher-level affiliate for his third minor-league start and will be looking to build on his pitch count after tossing 46 (33 strikes) in Sunday's outing. If Smith-Shawver can come close to maintaining the form he's displayed thus far during his rehab assignment in his subsequent minor-league outings, Atlanta should have room for him in the big-league rotation when he likely returns from the 60-day injured list at some point shortly after the All-Star break.
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Braves' AJ Smith-Shawver: Tosses three innings in rehab start
Rotowire
Smith-Shawver (elbow) struck out four and allowed on run on three hits and no walks across three innings Tuesday in a rehab start with Single-A Augusta.
Smith-Shawver kicked off his rehab assignment Tuesday as he enters the home stretch of his recovery from Tommy John surgery, which he underwent last June. The right-hander was able to limit the damage to just one run on a solo shot, and he spotted 29 of his 41 total pitches for strikes. Smith-Shawver will likely make his next rehab start at a higher level in Atlanta's farm system.
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Braves' AJ Smith-Shawver: Making first rehab start Tuesday
Rotowire
Smith-Shawver (elbow) is slated to make the first start of his rehab assignment Tuesday with Single-A Augusta, Barrett Sallee of 680 The Fan Atlanta reports.
After completing a series of bullpen sessions and live batting practice sessions as he works his way back from June 2025 Tommy John surgery, Smith-Shawver threw a two-inning simulated game at Atlanta's spring training facility in Florida as a final step before embarking on a rehab assignment. He'll likely build on that two-inning workload during Tuesday's outing and will presumably need at least three or four more rehab starts beyond that before Atlanta brings him back from the 60-day injured list. Smith-Shawver still has a minor-league option remaining, but if his velocity and command looks good during his rehab assignment, Atlanta may have room for him in the big-league rotation. Before undergoing elbow surgery last summer, Smith-Shawver posted a 3.86 ERA, 1.42 WHIP and 42:21 K:BB In 44.1 innings over nine starts with Atlanta.
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Braves' AJ Smith-Shawver: Kicking off rehab stint Thursday
Rotowire
Smith-Shawver (elbow) will begin a rehab assignment Thursday at Atlanta's spring training facility in Florida, Chad Bishop of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports.
The 23-year-old right-hander is set to throw 35-to-40 pitches over two innings in a simulated game. Smith-Shawver is heading into the final stretch of his recovery from June 2025 Tommy John surgery, and he's on track to be an option for Atlanta's big-league rotation sometime after the All-Star break. Over his first seven starts in 2025 prior to developing elbow trouble, Smith-Shawver had a 2.33 ERA, 1.24 WHIP and 40:17 K:BB in 38.2 innings.
Braves' AJ Smith-Shawver: Throwing bullpen sessions
Rotowire
Manager Walt Weiss said Friday that Smith-Shawver (elbow) has been throwing bullpen sessions, and the next step in his rehab is to face live hitters, Grant McAuley of the Marietta Daily Journal reports.
There hasn't been much info on Smith-Shawver's progress from Tommy John surgery, but Weiss said the right-hander has been throwing high-intensity bullpens, and it sounds like he's close to facing hitters. Once Smith-Shawver gets in some live batting practice, he'll likely then head out on an extended rehab assignment before having a chance to rejoin Atlanta's rotation later this summer.
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Braves' AJ Smith-Shawver: Shifts to 60-day IL
Rotowire
Atlanta placed Smith-Shawver (elbow) on the 60-day injured list Friday.
The right-hander is working through his rehab program after undergoing Tommy John surgery in June of last year, so his move to the 60-day IL early this season was an eventuality. Smith-Shawver could rejoin Atlanta during the second half of 2026 if he can avoid any setbacks.
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Braves' AJ Smith-Shawver: Opens season on 15-day IL
Rotowire
Atlanta placed Smith-Shawver (elbow) on the 15-day injured list Wednesday.
Smith-Shawver is still on the mend from the Tommy John surgery he underwent June 9 of last year and isn't expected to be ready to pitch for Atlanta until late in the 2026 season, if at all. Atlanta will eventually move him to the 60-day IL when it needs to open up another spot on the 40-man roster.
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