Atlanta Braves top prospect AJ Smith-Shawver was scheduled to start for the Gwinnett Stripers on Tuesday night. It would have been his second rehab start since going on the injured list after his first start against the Chicago Cubs in May. However, instead of starting at Triple-A, Smith-Shawver will join the big league club early after just one rehab start.
He will likely join the bullpen, which was stretched out last night due to the 11-inning game. To make room for him on the active roster, the Braves sent Monday's starter, Bryce Elder, back to Gwinnett a day after he was called up.
The #Braves today returned RHP AJ Smith-Shawver from his rehabilitation assignment and reinstated him from the injured list. Atlanta also optioned RHP Bryce Elder to Triple-A Gwinnett after yesterday’s game.
— Atlanta Braves (@Braves) July 9, 2024
Why would the Braves activate AJ Smith-Shawver early?
After missing over a month with a strained oblique, it looked like the Braves were going to take the slow route in bringing back Smith-Shawver, especially considering that Spencer Schwellenbach has been doing an admirable job filling the fifth spot in the rotation.
The Braves sent Smith-Shawver to High-A Rome for his first rehab start on July 3, where he pitched two innings, striking out four and allowing one run on a homer.
The 21-year-old prospect certainly hasn't built up enough innings to start in a game, but the Braves bullpen is likely running on fumes. Tuesday will be the club's eighth straight game and they are coming off an extra-innings victory where Grant Holmes went three innings and Raisel Iglesias covered two.
By adding Smith-Shawver back now, the Braves add an extra long reliever who can cover multiple innings while Holmes recovers from his 30-pitch outing over the next couple of days.
The Braves likely won't push Smith-Shawver past two or three innings in any outing, and with the All-Star break approaching, the team has plenty of time to stretch back out to a starter once the West Coast trip is complete.
Essentially, with the bullpen short, the top prospect is getting his rehab innings at the major league level.