The Atlanta Braves have recalled one of their top prospects from Double-A to open the third contest of their four-game home series against the Washington Nationals.
Atlanta right-hander Spencer Schwellenbach will make his major league debut Wednesday night after the Braves selected his contract from Double-A Mississippi. Right-hander Jimmy Herget was optioned to Triple-A Gwinnett in a corresponding move.
Schwellenbach, 23, was Atlanta’s second-round draft pick in 2021 out of Nebraska and had Tommy John surgery immediately after the draft. He began this season in High Class-A Rome and was promoted to Mississippi two weeks ago.
In eight minor league starts this season, Schwellenbach was 4-1 with a 1.80 ERA. He struck out 51 in 45 innings and did not allow a run in 13 innings with Mississippi.
Schwellenbach was rated this year by ESPN’s Kiley McDaniel as the No. 6 prospect in the Braves organization.
Atlanta has had trouble finding a suitable replacement for Spencer Strider, who made two starts before suffering a season-ending elbow injury and undergoing Tommy John surgery. The Braves tried Bryce Elder (five starts), Darius Vines (two) and Ray Kerr, AJ Smith-Shawver and Allan Winans (one start apiece) as a replacement with little success.
Smith-Shawver pitched 4⅓ scoreless innings against the Chicago Cubs in his opportunity last week but left with a strained left oblique and wound up on the 15-day injured list.
Atlanta’s Max Fried, who pitched eight scoreless innings Tuesday, had a chance to meet Schwellenbach before the game.
“I didn’t have much time to talk to him, but it’s a special day for him,” Fried said. “He’s worked really hard to get here, and a lot of people think he’s talented enough to be here and contribute. I’d just say to trust yourself and go get them.”
Information from Field Level Media was used in this report.