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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.
Braves' AJ Smith-Shawver: Undergoes Tommy John surgery
Rotowire
Atlanta announced Monday that Smith-Shawver (elbow) underwent Tommy John surgery and will miss the remainder of the 2025 season.
This was the expected outcome after Smith-Shawver was diagnosed with a torn UCL in his pitching elbow, which he suffered May 29. Smith-Shawver was placed on the 60-day injured list the following day and is looking at a lengthy rehab. Prior to his injury, Smith-Shawver (3-2) made nine starts for Atlanta this season, registering a 3.86 ERA and 42:21 K:BB across 44.1 innings of work. Grant Holmes and Bryce Elder round out Atlanta's rotation behind Chris Sale, Spencer Strider and Spencer Schwellenbach. Fellow starter Reynaldo Lopez (shoulder) remains on the 60-day IL.
Braves' AJ Smith-Shawver: Expecting surgery later in week
Rotowire
Smith-Shawver is meeting with orthopedic surgeon Keith Meister on Thursday and is expected to undergo Tommy John surgery later in the week, David O'Brien of The Athletic reports.
Smith-Shawver has officially been diagnosed with a torn UCL in his right elbow, though the team is still awaiting confirmation that he'll require Tommy John surgery. Once he meets with Dr. Meister, the right-hander will presumably go under the knife shortly after in an effort to begin his rehab as quickly as possible for a potential return during the second half of the 2026 campaign.
Atlanta manager Brian Snitker said Friday that Smith-Shawver has been diagnosed with a torn UCL in his right elbow, Grant McAuley of the Marietta Daily Journal reports.
Atlanta placed Smith-Shawver landed on the 15-day injured list Thursday, after team doctors determined that he had sustained a right elbow strain during his start earlier that day in the first game of a doubleheader versus the Phillies. After further evaluation, it was apparent that Smith-Shawver was headed for a long-term absence, so Atlanta transferred him to the 60-day IL on Friday. With UCL damage in his elbow having now been confirmed, Smith-Shawver will require a surgical procedure, though Snitker noted that it hasn't been determined whether the right-hander would require Tommy John surgery or another type of procedure. Surgery of any kind would almost certainly spell an end to Smith-Shawver's season while also affecting his availability for the start of the 2026 campaign. Bryce Elder will be called up from Triple-A Gwinnett to join the rotation as a replacement for Smith-Shawver, who will finish the 2025 season with a 3-2 record to go with a 3.86 ERA, 1.42 WHIP and 42:21 K:BB across 44.1 innings.
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