ATLANTA, Ga. (Atlanta News First) – Spencer Schwellenbach’s elbow injury will already have him missing Opening Day. The Atlanta Braves placing him on the 60-day injured list Tuesday solidified that. But on Wednesday, the 25-year-old broke his silence and revealed that he needs arthroscopic surgery to have his bone spurs removed.
There’s no timetable for when this could take place. The 25-year-old has not pitched since last June, when he suffered a small fracture in his right elbow.
“Bone spurs are quite common in pitchers,” Schwellenbach told reporters on Wednesday. “Most people have them. It’s whether or not they feel them or not. So, this is a surgery or scope procedure that’s been done many, many times, and I’m pretty confident with it. I don’t know what the exact days are to rest or to build back to throwing. But I guess we’ll figure that out when the time comes.”
It’s certainly not the kind of news you want to hear on day two of spring training. With Schwellenbach out, attention has quickly shifted to general manager and president of baseball operations Alex Anthopoulos and what moves he might make before Opening Day.
One name previously linked to Atlanta was right-hander Chris Bassitt, who signed a one-year, $18.5 million deal with the Baltimore Orioles on Wednesday night. The veteran, who turns 37 later this month, previously worked with Braves pitching coach Jeremy Hefner during their time with the New York Mets and was considered a good fit with Atlanta.
Since 2021, Bassitt has averaged 176 innings per season, providing steady durability atop the rotation. He was also a key contributor during the Toronto Blue Jays’ 2025 World Series run, posting a 3.96 ERA across 170.1 regular-season innings.
With Miles Mikolas signing with the Washington Nationals and José Quintana joining the Colorado Rockies, the top remaining free-agent starters include Zac Gallen, Zack Littell, Patrick Corbin, Nestor Cortes and Lucas Giolito.
Holmes update
Grant Holmes said Wednesday that he has no restrictions this spring after missing the final month of the 2025 season to rehab his partially torn ulnar collateral ligament and flexor tendon in his throwing elbow.
Holmes opted against surgery — a procedure that would have sidelined him for all of 2026 — choosing instead to pursue rest and rehabilitation.
“I feel strong and really healthy right now,” Holmes told reporters Wednesday. “My recovery has been really good.”
With Schwellenbach out, Holmes is a leading candidate to secure one of the rotation’s starting spots, joining Reynaldo López, Spencer Strider and Chris Sale. Bryce Elder, Hurston Waldrep and Joey Wentz are candidates for the fifth spot.
“All the reports all winter on him have been great,” Weiss said. “It hasn’t changed since he got down here. I saw him throw a bullpen yesterday. He looked good. He opted not to have the surgery on that thing, and it’s gone really well so far.”
A plethora of position players reported to North Port on Wednesday, including Ronald Acuña Jr., Austin Riley, Matt Olson, Ozzie Albies, Michael Harris II, Mike Yastrzemski and Mauricio Dubón. Exhibition play begins Feb. 21, when the Braves take on the Tampa Bay Rays at Charlotte Sports Park.
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