Spring Training is barely underway, but for the Braves, 2026 is already starting to feel like a sequel to last year’s injury-riddled campaign. The calendar may have flipped, but the injury updates keep coming-and not all of them are the kind you want to hear with Opening Day still weeks away.
Let’s start with the silver lining: Jurickson Profar met with the media for the first time this spring and revealed he underwent sports hernia surgery back in November. That wasn’t previously public knowledge, but the important part is that he’s now fully healthy.
For a Braves lineup that thrives on depth and versatility, having Profar ready to go is a quiet but meaningful win. He’s the kind of player who can plug into multiple roles and give you professional at-bats-exactly the type of glue guy you want healthy heading into a long season.
But the bigger headline came from the mound, where the Braves’ rotation took another hit. Hurston Waldrep is out indefinitely due to “loose bodies” in his pitching elbow, which have been causing soreness. The team says the ligament is intact, which is obviously a relief, but any elbow issue-especially for a young arm with upside like Waldrep-is going to raise some red flags.
This isn’t just a depth concern anymore; it’s a rotation puzzle that’s missing a few too many pieces. The Braves came into camp with questions about their back-end starters, and Waldrep was very much in the mix to push for a spot or provide early-season reinforcement. Now, with his status uncertain, the need to add another starter isn’t just a matter of planning-it’s becoming a necessity.
Atlanta has shown in recent years they’re not afraid to get aggressive when it comes to filling holes, and this may be another one of those moments. Whether it’s a veteran free agent or a trade route, the front office likely has to act sooner rather than later to stabilize the rotation before the season gets rolling.
Injuries are part of the game, sure-but for the Braves, the timing and significance of these early setbacks are already testing their depth. And if this trend continues, it could shape how they approach the rest of the spring-and maybe even the start of the regular season.