The Atlanta Braves are staring down a familiar and frustrating reality: their starting rotation is already under siege, and we haven’t even hit the first pitch of Spring Training. Just a year removed from a season riddled with injuries, the Braves are once again watching arms drop before the games even count.
The latest concern? Hurston Waldrep.
The promising right-hander is now undergoing further testing after experiencing arm discomfort during a routine batting practice session. According to manager Walt Weiss, initial scans revealed no ligament damage - a sigh of relief, at least for now - but there are reportedly “loose bodies” in his arm that may require surgery.
That’s not the kind of phrase you want associated with a young pitcher on the rise.
Waldrep’s situation is a gut punch, especially considering how high the Braves are on his potential. He’s one of those arms that could’ve been a difference-maker - maybe not right out of the gate, but certainly as the season wore on. Now, his timeline is up in the air, and the Braves are left waiting on more tests before they know their next move.
But Waldrep isn’t the only early blow. On Day 1 of camp, Atlanta announced that Spencer Schwellenbach would open the season on the 60-day injured list due to inflammation in his right elbow. The hope is that it’s just bone spurs, but anytime you’re talking about elbow issues in a young pitcher, it’s hard not to hold your breath.
For a team with championship aspirations, this is exactly the kind of start you want to avoid. The Braves came into the offseason with a rotation that looked solid on paper, but not invincible. Max Fried is a frontline guy, and Spencer Strider is electric, but depth matters - and right now, that depth is thinning fast.
Which brings us to Lucas Giolito.
With Waldrep and Schwellenbach sidelined, Atlanta has reportedly ramped up its pursuit of Giolito, one of the last notable free-agent starters still on the board. According to league sources, the Braves and Padres have emerged as the two most aggressive suitors, with the Phillies and Mets still lingering in the background.
Giolito isn’t a perfect solution - his 2023 season was a rollercoaster - but in this market, he’s one of the few remaining arms with both experience and upside. For Atlanta, he represents more than just a rotation filler; he’s a potential stabilizer at a time when the staff desperately needs one.
The urgency is real. Atlanta doesn’t want to head into the season relying on unproven arms or hoping for midseason reinforcements. This is a team built to win now, and they can’t afford to let a shaky rotation derail that plan before Opening Day.
If Giolito signs elsewhere, the Braves may be forced to patch things together with internal options - a risky proposition given how quickly injuries have already piled up. The front office knows this.
The fanbase feels it. And the clock is ticking.
The Braves aren’t in panic mode just yet, but they’re definitely on high alert. With expectations sky-high and the margin for error razor-thin, Atlanta’s next move could shape the trajectory of their 2026 season - before a single pitch is thrown.