The Atlanta Braves' offseason is officially underway with the end of the 2025 World Series. Atlanta's first piece of business has to be finding a manager. After that, they have a few areas to focus on. One of those areas will be starting pitching due to all of the Atlanta pitchers rehabbing injuries from 2025. Grant Holmes is one of those injured pitchers looking to return healthy in 2026.
Holmes was having a pretty decent season before partially tearing his UCL. In 22 games, he collected a 3.99 ERA over 115 innings, with 54 walks and 123 strikeouts. He was hit or miss at times, but was overall good for the back half of Atlanta's rotation with some impressive moments, including when he struck out 15 batters in a game. This tied him with legends John Smoltz and Warren Spahn for most strikeouts in a game by a Braves pitcher.
The long-haired righty decided he wouldn't undergo surgery, but rehab his elbow instead. Braves insider Grant McAuley shared a video of Holmes throwing off a mound in Florida.
#Braves RHP Grant Holmes shared a brief clip of him throwing off the mound down in North Port and the tagline, "Here's to a healthy offseason."
— Grant McAuley (@grantmcauley) October 31, 2025
Holmes is rehabbing his partially torn UCL and told be just before the end of the year that he hopes to be ready for Spring Training. pic.twitter.com/JtnDK4iwgf
Grant Holmes appears to be on track for 2026, but there is a long way to go
The caption read, "Here's to a healthy offseason." That's what the Braves will need from Holmes as if things go well, he could be ready in time for spring training.
If he's able to return healthy, that would give Atlanta a potential rotation of Chris Sale, Spencer Strider, Holmes, Waldrep, and an internal/external addition. The problem with that is that it hinges on the front office assuming he will have a healthy offseason. Even if that transpires (a big "if"), they really need to look at adding to the rotation. The Braves' pitching depth was thin in 2025, but to be fair, no one could have anticipated the entire Opening Day rotation landing on the IL.
But with Spencer Schwellenbach (whose status is uncertain) and AJ Smith-Shawver (who definitely is out for the foreseeable future) also rehabbing their elbows, the front office has to ensure there is enough depth come Opening Day. It doesn't have to be one of the best free agents available, but it needs to be someone who can eat innings.
Hopefully, Holmes' decision not to receive surgery is a glimmer of hope for the Braves. They certainly don't want to experience what they did in 2025 again.