Braves' AJ Smith-Shawver: Rough return to rotation
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Smith-Shawver didn't factor into the decision in Wednesday's 6-4 loss to the Twins, giving up four runs on five hits and three walks over 4.1 innings. He struck out three.
Making just his second big-league appearance of the season, Smith-Shawver retired the first seven batters he faced before the wheels began to come off in the third inning, as four straight Minnesota hitters reached base before the right-hander coaxed a double play out of Josh Bell to escape the jam. Smith-Shawver wasn't so lucky in the fifth, getting the hook after 75 pitches (49 strikes) following a bases-loaded walk to Bell. Atlanta has indicated the 23-year-old will remain in the rotation for now as part of a six-man unit -- the team is in the middle of a three-week stretch with just one scheduled off day that takes them to Sept. 3 -- but he'll need to perform better to keep his spot. Smith-Shawver is set to make his next trip to the mound at home next week against the Dodgers.
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Braves' AJ Smith-Shawver: Expected to stick in rotation
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Smith-Shawver is expected to remain in the Atlanta rotation beyond Wednesday's start against Minnesota, Gabe Burns of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports.
Smith-Shawver has been limited to one major-league start so far this season, as he missed extended time at the start of the campaign while completing his recovery from Tommy John surgery. However, he will return to a big-league mound Wednesday, and Atlanta will move to a six-man rotation for the time being to accommodate the 23-year-old right-hander. Smith-Shawver had been pitching brilliantly for Triple-A prior to his promotion Tuesday, allowing just two earned runs with a 23:6 K:BB over his last 19.1 innings spanning four starts for Gwinnett.
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Braves' AJ Smith-Shawver: Promotion coming soon
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Atlanta manager Walt Weiss said Wednesday that Smith-Shawver is "on the cusp" of being recalled from Triple-A Gwinnett, Barrett Sallee of 680 The Fan Atlanta reports.
Smith-Shawver has been on the shelf for most of the season while recovering from June 2025 Tommy John surgery, but he was activated in late July and then sent to Gwinnett after making a lone 4.1-inning spot start for the big club. The right-hander has turned in a pair of strong starts since heading to Gwinnett, including a gem of an outing Tuesday in which he struck out seven over 5.1 scoreless frames while permitting just one baserunner. Per Mark Bowman of MLB.com, Weiss made it clear Wednesday that he prefers to keep a five-man rotation intact, so once Smith-Shawver gets called up, Atlanta will likely look to move two of Reynaldo Lopez (knee), Tyler Mahle, Bryce Elder, Grant Holmes and Martin Perez to the bullpen.
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Braves' AJ Smith-Shawver: Activated ahead of start Wednesday
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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.
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Braves' AJ Smith-Shawver: Will start first game of twin bill
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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: Looks sharp in latest rehab start
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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
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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
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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: Kicking off rehab stint Thursday
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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.
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Braves' AJ Smith-Shawver: Throwing bullpen sessions
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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
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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
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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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Braves' AJ Smith-Shawver: Undergoes Tommy John surgery
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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.
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Braves' AJ Smith-Shawver: Diagnosed with torn UCL
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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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Braves' AJ Smith-Shawver: Shifts to 60-day IL
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Atlanta transferred Smith-Shawver (elbow) to the 60-day injured list Friday.
The right-hander landed on the 15-day IL after suffering an elbow strain during the first game of Thursday's doubleheader against the Phillies, and his quick move to the 60-day IL is an indication it isn't a minor issue. The severity of the strain isn't yet known, but Smith-Shawver will be sidelined for at least the next two months.
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Braves' AJ Smith-Shawver: Hit by comebacker, exits game
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Smith-Shawver was removed from his start in the first game of Thursday's doubleheader against Philadelphia after getting hit in his lower right leg by a comebacker, Justin Toscano of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports. He struck out a batter and gave up two earned runs on three hits and one walk over 2.2 innings prior to his exit.
A 96-mile-per-hour line drive off the bat of Bryson Stott connected with Smith-Shawver's foot/ankle during the third inning. The 22-year-old righty attempted to remain in the game after getting hit but faced just one additional batter before manager Brian Snitker pulled the plug on him. Atlanta will presumably take a look at the young starter to make sure he didn't suffer any structural damage, and the team should offer an update on his status relatively soon.
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Braves' AJ Smith-Shawver: Atlanta-Philadelphia postponed
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Smith-Shawver and Atlanta will not play the Phillies on Wednesday after the game was postponed due to rain, Matt Gelb of The Athletic reports.
Smith-Shawver will have a second consecutive start postponed, with his May 21 outing also getting pushed back a day due to rain in Washington. Wednesday's contest will be made up Thursday, as Atlanta and Philadelphia will play a split doubleheader. Per Mark Bowman of MLB.com, Smith-Shawver will pitch in Game 1.
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Braves' AJ Smith-Shawver: Atlanta-Washington postponed
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Smith-Shawver and Atlanta won't play the Nationals on Wednesday after the game was postponed due to rain in Washington.
The two teams will make up the postponed game Sept. 16 as part of a doubleheader. Smith-Shawver's start has been pushed back a day to Thursday's series finale in Washington, per Gabe Burns of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
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Braves' AJ Smith-Shawver: Throws six strong innings
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Smith-Shawver (3-2) picked up the win Thursday against the Nationals, allowing one unearned run on two hits and two walks across six innings. He struck out six.
The only damage against Smith-Shawver came in the sixth inning, when a two-out fielding error by Austin Riley allowed CJ Abrams to score from second base. It was another excellent start from the 22-year-old, who's allowed just one earned run in his last 19.2 innings. On the year, Smith-Shawver has a 2.33 ERA and a 40:17 K:BB across 38.2 innings. He's in line to make his next start Thursday for a road matchup against Washington.
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Braves' AJ Smith-Shawver: Earns first win in shortened start
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Smith-Shawver (1-2) left Tuesday's start against the Rockies after being hit in the right arm by a line drive, Owen Perkins of MLB.com reports. He picked up the win after allowing two runs on four hits and one walk while striking out five in 5.1 innings.
Smith-Shawver was in a rhythm before his night ended, pouring in 46 of his 59 pitches for strikes, and he gave up a season-low four hits and one walk. "It got the meaty part of my arm, so we'll see what happens [Wednesday]," Smith-Shawver said following the contest. "But for right now, I'm feeling pretty good." It sounds like there's a chance the right-hander's exit was precautionary, given Atlanta was leading 7-1 at the time of his departure. Smith-Shawver holds a 4.26 ERA, 1.68 WHIP and 22:9 K:BB over 19 innings in 2025, and he can be deemed day-to-day for the time being. His next start tentatively lines up for next week at home versus the Reds.
