Braves’ Spencer Schwellenbach Earns Quick Callup
When the Braves drafted Nebraska two-way player Spencer Schwellenbach in the second round in 2021, then-vice president of scouting Dana Brown couldn’t contain his excitement.
“This is probably one of my favorite picks, I could say, of my career,” Brown said. “I was so excited to get this guy.”
That’s high praise from the man who notably drafted Michael Harris II in the third round in 2019 and Spencer Strider in the fourth in 2020.
The Braves liked Schwellenbach as a shortstop but loved him as a righthander, so he became full-time pitcher. He had Tommy John surgery after signing and missed the 2022 season.
Schwellenbach returned to pitch at the Class A levels in 2023 and reached Double-A Mississippi this year. In late May, the 24-year-old leaped from the Southern League to Atlanta. He pitched five strong innings in his MLB debut against the Nationals on May 29.
Schwellenbach’s callup was a surprise, but perhaps it shouldn’t have been. In the minors this season, he had logged 51 strikeouts against 10 walks in 45 innings.
“(I’ve just been focused on) pounding the strike zone, getting ahead of guys early,” Schwellenbach said. “Just being able to put them away when I get to two strikes.”
In fact, Schwellenbach said one of his main goals for this season was to get more strikeouts. He’s always had an aggressive pitching style. In his debut he looked comfortable and showed a four-pitch mix that includes a mid-90s fastball and slider.
The quick ascension was notable for a player who had logged just 110 minor league innings, lost a year to TJ and missed time last season with right shoulder inflammation.
“He’s a college guy who’s gotten results,” Braves manager Brian Snitker said. “It’s attractive when you get guys out. That’s the way you get noticed.”
Schwellenbach became the Braves’ third 2021 draftee to make the majors, following lefthander Dylan Dodd and righthander AJ Smith-Shawver, the club’s top pitching prospect was sidelined by an oblique injury.
NOTES
— In early June, the Braves promoted 2023 first-round righthander Hurston Waldrep from Double-A to Triple-A Gwinnett. He struck out 11 in his first outing. Waldrep is a good bet to make his MLB debut later this season if he continues this trajectory. He could also make a case for a rotation spot in 2025 given the team will likely have multiple openings with Max Fried and Charlie Morton being free agents.
— Budding righthander Owen Murphy had Tommy John surgery in early June. He was earning glowing reviews after he had a 1.54 ERA in seven outings for High-A Rome. What jumped out most for the 2022 first-rounder was 60 strikeouts in 41 innings. Still just 20 years old, Murphy will be interesting to monitor whenever he returns.
