Braves’ Spencer Schwellenbach Proves To Be Worth The Wait
Righthander Spencer Schwellenbach returned from Tommy John surgery last season and showed why the Braves were so enthusiastic about the 24-year-old’s potential.
Schwellenbach recorded a 2.49 ERA in 16 starts, most of them at Low-A Augusta, while striking out 55 and walking 16 in 65 innings. He took on a greater innings load as the season progressed, covering at least five in five of his final six outings.
In his final two starts for High-A Rome, Schwellenbach logged 11 scoreless innings and fanned 11 hitters without issuing a walk. His last outing featured six perfect innings.
The Braves drafted Schwellenbach out of Nebraska in the second round in 2021. He did not pitch professionally that season or in 2022 as he recovered from TJ.
Schwellenbach was a two-way player at Nebraska, and when he was pitching he was the Huskers’ closer. While he’s not an imposing presence—he is listed at 6-foot-1, 200 pounds—his fastball has hovered in the high 90s and he also throws a slider and changeup.
Former Braves vice president of scouting—and current Astros GM—Dana Brown nailed several picks for the Braves, including Michael Harris II in 2019 and Spencer Strider in 2020, helping shape Atlanta into a long-term contender.
“This is probably one of my favorite picks of my career,” Brown said of Schwellenbach at the time.
SHORT NOTES
— The Braves’ system does not lack for pitching depth. Beyond Schwellenbach, Atlanta has Top 100 Prospect righthanders AJ Smith-Shawver and Hurston Waldrep. Righties such as Owen Murphy, Cade Kuehler and JR Ritchie possess upside as well.
— The Braves’ minor league infield depth is improving. In January, Atlanta signed coveted 17-year-old Venezuelan shortstop Jose Perdomo. The organization already has Ignacio Alvarez and Ambioris Tavarez at the lower levels. Over the past few years, the Braves’ graduations, trades and international signing restrictions have knocked their system down a peg, but they are beginning to dig out. It helps that the Braves’ core is young and signed to multi-year deals.
