Braves’ Opening Day plans disrupted by loss of Spencer Schwellenbach and Hurston Waldrep

The Atlanta Braves entered spring training with plans to tweak a rotation constructed for a World Series chase from the outset. Now, due to the elbow injuries of two young pitchers that happened only weeks before Opening Day, the club is having to adapt on the fly. Spencer Schwellenbach and Hurston Waldrep, two right-handers, will have surgery to have loose bodies removed, ruling them out for a long time and forcing some immediate circumstances to Atlanta’s pitching picture.

Already facing tough competition in the National League East, the timing of the injuries creates even more pressure, manager Walt Weiss told reporters on Wednesday. Now, with spring workloads planned and roster spots still being decided, the Braves must lean on depth, health and flexibility as they rewrite their early-season pitching plans.

The 25-year-old Spencer Schwellenbach had been perceived as a significant part of the Braves’ rotation over the next few years after having a steady and healthy developmental path. The team revealed that inflammation and loose bodies in his right elbow necessitated surgery, an injury that will keep him off the mound until deep into the season. The procedure doesn’t require as significant a recovery as ligament reconstruction, but return timeframes are ambiguous at this point, making it hard for the Braves to plan around his return.

Spencer Schwellenbach was a proven commodity who could eat serious innings behind the top of the rotation, and losing him hurts. His absence further depletes the available talent amongst the barely adequate starters for Atlanta and narrows the margin for error for this club early in the season, especially during stretches of a grueling schedule.

Waldrep, 23, came to camp as a candidate to fill one of the rotation’s final spots and was viewed as one of the most promising young arms in the team. He felt discomfort in his elbow throughout workouts, and imaging showed loose bodies like Schwellenbach, and a surgical decision was made. Braves will be cautious not be in a hurry to return as long as he is fit in the future ahead.

As for the Braves, they will have to rely on more seasoned arms like Spencer Strider, Chris Sale and Reynaldo López, while still examining internal options for temporary fixes now that both arms are out for the year. If early-season performance or health becomes a reason for concern, the front office could also monitor the market for more pitching help.