The Atlanta Braves placed Spencer Schwellenbach on the 60-day injured list on Tuesday, and the pitcher provided an update on what his timeline looks like.
According to WSBTV Atlanta’s Alison Mastrangelo, Schwellenbach told reporters that he will need arthroscopic surgery to fix the bone spurs & inflammation in his right elbow. He added that he is unsure of when he will be able to return at this point.
With Schwellenbach’s timeline unclear, the Braves’ rotation will need help. Schwellenbach missed time last season with a fractured right elbow and will now miss significant time to start the year.
Chris Sale, Spencer Strider, Reynaldo López and Grant Holmes figure to fill the top four spots in the rotation right now. Bryce Elder, Joey Wentz and Hurston Waldrep are options to round out the rotation. AJ Smith-Shawver is recovering from Tommy John surgery and the Braves may not be able to count on him until late in the season.
If the Braves fear that Schwellenbach could miss most of the season after surgery, they could explore external options. Zac Gallen and Chris Bassitt are both available and could be willing to sign shorter deals.
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