Braves fast track top pitching prospect to MLB with surprise promotion

For all of the Atlanta Braves development successes in recent years, they have garnered a reputation for being particularly good at developing pitchers. The organization knows what they looking for in pitchers and are not afraid to pick the guys that fit their mold from both the college and high school ranks.

For that reason, it was almost odd at first glance when the Braves selected Spencer Schwellenbach in the second round of the 2021 MLB Draft to be used as a starter. Schwellenbach was primarily a shortstop/reliever at Nebraska, but Atlanta and especially then-scouting director Dana Brown loved his arm so much that it didn't bother them Schwellenbach needed Tommy John surgery.

Since returning from his elbow surgery, Schwellenbach has rewarded the Braves' faith in a big way. His first look at full-season ball last year saw him post a 2.49 ERA across Low-A and High-A. Atlanta started him at High-A again in 2024, but it didn't take long to see that he needed a bigger challenge: the Braves pushed him to Double-A after just six starts.

Now, after two starts in Double-A, the current word is that Schwellenbach is going to be bypassing Triple-A entirely and making his big league debut with the Braves this week.

Braves News: Spencer Schwellenbach supposedly being given quick promotion to MLB

You have to hand it to the Braves. When they decide to push a guy through the minors, they don't mess around. It happened with Spencer Strider, who blasted his way to the big leagues. It happened with AJ Smith-Shawver in 2023, whose initial call-up came with limited success, but everyone could see the upside was there.

In Schwellenbach's case, he has certainly earned a chance to prove himself at the highest levels of the minors, although a big league promotion was quite the surprise. He is a college draftee without all the college miles on his arm, and his 1.80 ERA in eight starts this year has made it abundantly clear that he is overmatching lower-level hitters with his aggressive pounding of the strike zone with his plus fastball and plus slider.

With Bryce Elder's struggles and the fifth spot in the Braves' rotation seeming like an opening casting call, Schwellenbach's ability to pound the strike zone with multiple pitches and miss bats is very appealing to a Braves team that is looking for quality innings from that spot in the rotation. That said, it is still pretty wild that Atlanta is once again putting this much faith in a guy that doesn't have a ton of experience against top level competition.

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