Injury Bug Bites Braves Again as 2026 Begins with Familiar Frustration
If there's one thing Braves fans were hoping to leave behind in 2025, it was the injury plague that seemed to shadow the team from spring to fall. But here we are, and it’s déjà vu all over again. Before a single pitch has been thrown in 2026, Atlanta is already watching its roster depth get tested - hard.
Let’s start with the catching situation. Sean Murphy, a former All-Star and cornerstone behind the plate, is still recovering from offseason hip surgery.
There’s no firm timetable for his return, but the team is circling mid-May as a hopeful target. That might be optimistic, considering the demands of the position and Murphy’s history with injuries.
The Braves are understandably playing it safe - and they’ve got some insurance in place. Drake Baldwin is a promising internal option, and the team just brought in Jonah Heim on a one-year deal, giving them a solid veteran presence to bridge the gap.
The infield isn’t immune either. Ha-Seong Kim, one of the more dynamic defenders on the roster, tore a ligament in his finger after slipping on ice back in Korea.
He’s on a similar recovery timeline to Murphy, with the team aiming for a mid-May return. Like Murphy, Kim has had his share of injury setbacks over the past two seasons.
Fortunately, Mauricio Dubón is capable of stepping in and holding things down until Kim is ready.
But the biggest blow so far? That belongs to the rotation.
Spencer Schwellenbach, the young right-hander who showed flashes of top-tier potential last season, is heading to the 60-day injured list with elbow inflammation. The team doesn’t believe surgery is necessary, but this is now the third elbow-related issue of his young career.
He already had Tommy John surgery after college and missed the back half of 2025 with a fractured elbow. That’s a lot of wear and tear for a pitcher who hasn’t even had a full season in the bigs yet.
Walt Weiss addressed the injury, saying the team doesn’t believe this latest issue is connected to last year’s fracture. Still, elbow problems are never something you want to see - especially not for a pitcher with Schwellenbach’s upside.
Even if he returns later in the season, expecting him to pick up right where he left off is a big ask. And with the rotation already looking thin, this one stings.
Atlanta’s front office is trying to patch holes where it can. The team made a small move to add infield depth, acquiring Brett Wisely from the Rays for cash considerations. It’s a depth play, but one that could matter if injuries keep piling up.
Meanwhile, the bullpen took a hit of its own. Joe Jiménez is also heading to the 60-day IL with a left knee issue - specifically, an articular cartilage injury.
Jiménez had surgery right after the 2024 season, with a recovery window of 8 to 12 months. He was making progress and even throwing bullpens around the All-Star break last year, but suffered a setback late in the season and hasn’t been back on the mound since.
At this stage, it’s unclear whether Jiménez will throw another meaningful pitch for Atlanta. But the good news, if there is any, is that the Braves did invest in the bullpen this offseason.
That group has some depth. The rotation?
Not so much - and that’s where the concern really lies.
The Braves came into 2026 looking to rebound from a disappointing 2025 campaign. But before the team can even lace up for Opening Day, they’re already facing adversity in the form of key injuries to multiple impact players. If this team is going to contend, it’ll have to do it the hard way - again.