It’s been a week to forget for the Braves, from porous play on the field to a second season-ending injury to Ronald Acuña Jr. But if you’re looking for any bright spots, there have been a few. Austin Riley and Sean Murphy returned to the lineup on Monday, and now top prospect Spencer Schwellenbach is getting the call to the majors.
The Atlanta Braves are calling up pitching prospect Spencer Schwellenbach, according to sources familiar with the situation. Schwellenbach is rated as the Braves’ No. 3 prospect by @MLBPipeline.
— Robert Murray (@ByRobertMurray) May 28, 2024
Per Robert Murray, Spencer Schwellenbach is expected to start for the Braves Wednesday.
Schwellenbach is expected to start for the Braves on Wednesday. https://t.co/BTNQp10IQW
— Robert Murray (@ByRobertMurray) May 28, 2024
The rise of Spencer Schwellenbach this season is similar to AJ Smith-Shawver a year ago. Schwellenbach began the year in High-A Rome before receiving a promotion to AA Mississippi just a couple of weeks ago. Now, he’ll make his MLB debut this week, about the same time Smith-Shawver made his MLB debut last year, who also began the year in High-A Rome before making his debut on June 4th.
Coincidently, a primary reason Schwellenbach is getting this opportunity is that Smith-Shawver has been placed on the IL with an oblique strain and is expected to miss a couple of months. The Braves are searching for answers when it comes to the fifth spot in the rotation, and they are hoping Schwellenbach might just be the boost they need.
The soon-to-be 24-year-old right-hander was a second-round pick in 2021 but didn’t make his professional debut until 2023 after undergoing Tommy John surgery. At every minor-league level, Spencer Schwellenbach has been nothing short of sensational, and it seems to be all coming together for him this year. He’s made eight starts between High-A Rome and AA Mississippi, boasting a 1.80 ERA with 51 strikeouts in 45 innings.
But perhaps Schwellenbach’s most attractive attribute is his ability to throw strikes. He’s walked just 10 batters this season and surrendered 16 free passes last year in 65 innings. That control paired with his stuff could lead to a lot of success at the major-league level.
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Photographer: Larry Radloff/Icon Sportswire
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