The Atlanta Braves have enjoyed having some time off after a rough end to the first half of the season. They've tried their best to tread water every time they've dealt with injuries or rough stretches of the offense slumping. But it hasn't all been bad, as there have been some great moments as well.
Luckily, it seems like the Braves are closer to adding a couple of players back who hit the IL over the last month or so. Let's check out some recent updates below.
Ronald Acuna Jr. joins FCL Braves for rehab assignment
Braves fans cannot wait to have their superstar outfielder back in the lineup. Things have gone completely sideways since he went down with his hamstring injury. Atlanta has rightfully been careful with him this time around and hasn't rushed him back.
Acuna joined Andrew McCutchen and Ha-Seong Kim at the FCL Braves to begin his rehab assignment. Acuna hasn't done anything noteworthy, but he's been able to complete at-bats without pain, and that's what matters most.
He's 0-for-6 with two strikeouts over two games played. Acuna served as DH for both games, and that's likely how he will be used for his first few games back on the field.
Ha-Seong Kim hoping to find himself again on rehab assignment
Kim has been one of the worst hitters in baseball this season with a .068 average over 73 at-bats. That is not what Atlanta had in mind from their $20 million offseason addition. He went down with a finger injury on July 4th and began a rehab assignment with the FCL Braves alongside Acuna.
He's already done a bit better, as he is 2-for-4 over his first two games with one RBI, one walk, and two strikeouts. One of those hits was a home run in his first game on July 13th. He has a long way to go, but hopefully this builds his confidence back up.
Spencer Schwellenbach expected to start journey back to big leagues soon
The Braves are in dire need of stability in their starting rotation, as injuries and underperformance have plagued them. Atlanta will need to consider adding a starter at the deadline, despite injured pitchers like Spencer Schwellenbach starting to work their way back.
AJ Smith-Shawver is currently working his way back and could be back later this season. Schwellenbach is expected to head to Florida to start working his way back in a couple of weeks. This is great news, but he won't be available until the end of August or early September.
Schwellenbach will likely head to Florida within the next week or two. If you look at that like it’s the start of Spring Training, he could become a candidate to start in late August or early September https://t.co/s0JaVp4fXg
— Mark Bowman (@mlbbowman) June 29, 2026
The Braves need to do their best to fill needs and give them a chance at the postseason in the meantime. Having a healthy Schwellenbach back is super important, especially in a playoff race. But they don't need to rush him back if they can help it.
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