Braves Rotation Takes Early Hit as Spencer Schwellenbach Lands on 60-Day IL
Spring training is supposed to be the season of optimism-when everyone’s tied for first and the possibilities feel endless. But for the Atlanta Braves, that hopeful energy took a major blow before the first full bullpen session even wrapped. On the day pitchers and catchers reported, the team announced that right-hander Spencer Schwellenbach will begin the 2026 season on the 60-day injured list with right elbow inflammation.
It’s a tough break for a pitcher the Braves were counting on, and it immediately casts a shadow over a rotation that already had its share of question marks.
Schwellenbach’s Setback: A Familiar, Frustrating Road
There was real hope this spring that Schwellenbach would return healthy and ready to take a step forward after missing the back half of last season. Instead, the elbow issues that ended his 2025 campaign have resurfaced-this time labeled as inflammation, but with enough concern that the Braves aren’t taking chances. He’s shut down until at least late May.
The team is holding out hope that it’s “just” bone spurs, but that’s not exactly comforting when you consider the righty’s injury history. Schwellenbach has already undergone one Tommy John surgery, and while this current inflammation isn’t directly tied to last season’s elbow fracture, it’s all part of a troubling pattern for a young pitcher with a high ceiling and a fragile arm.
And Braves fans don’t need to look far for a cautionary tale. Just two years ago, Spencer Strider dealt with bone spurs that ultimately led to a UCL brace surgery-costing him the entire 2024 season. So when the Braves say “bone spurs,” it’s not exactly a sigh-of-relief diagnosis.
Rotation Depth Already Tested
Even before Schwellenbach’s setback, the Braves’ rotation wasn’t exactly overflowing with certainty. Chris Sale is back and healthy, and Spencer Strider is expected to anchor the staff, but beyond that, it gets murky. Reynaldo López and Grant Holmes both come into camp with health concerns of their own, and now one of the team’s young arms is sidelined before he even had a chance to compete.
That puts more pressure on the rest of the rotation-and on the front office. Atlanta spent much of the offseason linked to various free-agent arms but didn’t pull the trigger on any major additions. With Schwellenbach now shelved, the Braves could be forced to turn to top prospect Hurston Waldrep sooner than expected.
Waldrep has the stuff to compete at the big-league level, but relying on him out of the gate isn’t ideal. He’s still developing, and the depth behind him is thin. If another injury hits this staff before Opening Day, the Braves could find themselves scrambling for answers-and fast.
A Pivotal Spring Ahead
There’s still time, and Atlanta’s front office has shown it can move quickly when needed. But Schwellenbach’s injury is a reminder that even the best-laid plans can unravel in a hurry.
The Braves came into camp with a rotation that had the potential to be dominant-if everything broke right. Now, just one day into workouts, they’re already down a key piece.
The next few weeks will be telling. Will the Braves make a move to reinforce the rotation?
Can Waldrep rise to the occasion? And most importantly, will the rest of the staff stay healthy long enough to carry the load?
For a team with championship aspirations, the margin for error just got a little thinner.