Spencer Schwellenbach came out of nowhere this season, rising from A+ ball to the bigs in a matter of months and then turning into a stabilizing force in the Atlanta Braves rotation. The 24-year-old rookie finished the season with a 3.35 ERA in 123.2 innings, which would have been unthinkable going into the season.
While the National League's exceptional rookie class prevented him from receiving any Rookie of the Year votes, his performance did not go overlooked, as he, along with Michael Harris II, was one of 100 pre-arbitration players to receive a performance bonus.
ICYMI: Spencer Schwellenbach's career-high 11 Ks!#BravesCountry pic.twitter.com/mE3mNLlpq5
— Atlanta Braves (@Braves) July 27, 2024
Braves' Spencer Schwellenbach receives $365,752 for outstanding rookie campaign
Despite not making his debut until the very end of May, Spencer Schwellenbach was one of the best starters in the majors. His 2.6 fWAR placed him at No. 46 among pitchers with at least 100 innings. The rookie had a better year than veterans who pitched the entire season, like Luis Castillo, Luis Severino, and Miles Mikolas.
As part of the most recent collective bargaining agreement (CBA), pre-arbitration players are now eligible for bonuses, with the total bonus pool equaling $50 million. Players get higher bonuses for winning awards like Cy Young, MVP, or Rookie of the Year, while the remaining bonus pool is decided by WAR.
Kansas City Royals superstar Bobby Witt Jr. led the bonus pool thanks to his second-place finish in MVP voting and his All-MLB first team finish.
Schwellenbach had the 48th-highest bonus this year, receiving $365,752. Considering Schwellenbach only earned a prorated amount of the league minimum once he was called up in May, totaling $493,333, this nearly doubled his 2024 salary. Not too shabby for someone who had only pitched less than 100 innings in his entire college and professional career coming into the season.
Additionally, Michael Harris II received a $267,069 bonus from the pre-arbitration bonus. Thanks to his 2022 extension, Harris earned much more than a typical pre-arbitration player with a $5 million salary, but I'm certain the newly married man will happily take the extra bonus as he looks to have a breakout season in 2025.