Braves Rotation Already in Shambles as Schwellenbach and Waldrep Head for Elbow Surgery

The Atlanta Braves' pitching rotation is currently held together by duct tape, thoughts, and prayers. The latest blow arrived when MLB Trade Rumors relayed that both Spencer Schwellenbach and Hurston Waldrep are getting their elbows sliced open before Opening Day even gets here.

Manager Walt Weiss confirmed both young right-handers are undergoing surgery to remove loose bodies from their elbows. Spencer Schwellenbach is already parked on the 60-day injured list, and Hurston Waldrep is packing his bags to join him. If you were holding a futures ticket on the Atlanta Braves cruising to a division title, it might be time to check the cash-out options.

"Manager Walt Weiss confirmed the surgeries, noting the team has not put a formal timetable on a return for either pitcher."

This is a brutal setback for Spencer Schwellenbach, who was supposed to be a lock for the rotation. He posted a 3.09 ERA over 110 innings last season, but his elbow has been a ticking time bomb since he fractured it last summer. Now, he is out indefinitely after feeling pain at the end of a bullpen session a couple of weeks ago.

Hurston Waldrep is in the exact same boat. The 2023 first-round pick was the heavy favorite for the fifth starter job after flashing a 2.88 ERA in 56 big-league innings last year. Instead of locking down the back end of the rotation, he is heading to Dallas to have a surgeon clean out cartilage chips.

The sheer volume of red flags in Atlanta right now is staggering. The remaining rotation features Chris Sale, who turns 37 next month and has exactly one fully healthy season since 2017. Behind him is Spencer Strider trying to bounce back from UCL surgery, Reynaldo Lopez coming off shoulder surgery, and Grant Holmes trying to pitch through a torn UCL without going under the knife. That is not a pitching staff. That is a medical journal.

The Atlanta Braves have not given a formal timeline for either Spencer Schwellenbach or Hurston Waldrep to return, meaning they will miss at least the first two months of the season. Atlanta better hope their veteran depth pieces can eat some serious innings, or they will be shopping for starting pitching before the weather even gets warm.