How Spencer Schwellenbach's 2024 season compares to past Braves rookie pitchers

Ever since his making major league debut back in May, Spencer Schwellenbach has done nothing but impress for the Atlanta Braves.

Before his sterling but wasted effort against the Mets on Monday, Schwellenbach has made 20 starts for Atlanta as a rookie in which he owns an 8-7 record with a 3.47 ERA and a 122:23 K:BB ratio across 116.2 IP. The right-hander also owns a 2.4 WAR while holding opponents to a combined .230 AVG against, and is likely to finish highly in the 2024 NL Rookie of the Year voting.

A truly special rookie season for Schwellenbach, the right-hander has firmly cemented himself in the Braves 2025 starting rotation in the process as well, setting the stage for what could be an exciting future career in Atlanta for the former second round pick.

However, when taking a look at Schwellenbach's season in particular, how does the right-hander's rookie year compare to some of the best prior first seasons from Braves pitchers? Let's take a look.

NOTE: Relief pitchers were not included on this list, only starters. Because of this, here are some of the Braves prominent rookie pitchers from the past who are not listed: Steve Bedrosian (1982), Mike Stanton (1991), Mark Wohlers (1992), Greg McMichael (1993), Kerry Ligtenberg (1998), Kevin McGlinchey (1999), Jonny Venters (2010), Craig Kimbrel (2011)

Atlanta Braves pitcher Spencer Schwellenbach's 2024 rookie season has been special

Craig McMurty, Right-Handed Pitcher (1983)

Rookie Stats: 15-9 record, 3.08 ERA, 105:88 K:BB ratio across 224.2 IP

McMurty, who finished as the runner-up for the NL Rookie of the Year, pitched a total of 224.2 IP - 36 appearances with 35 starts - for the Braves as a rookie in 1983, which is double what Schwellenbach has done this year. However, Schwellenbach has clear advantages in both strikeouts and walks, but McMurty's 5.2 WAR was far greater.

Derek Lilliquist, Right-Handed Pitcher (1989)

Rookie Stats: 8-10 record, 3.97 ERA, 79:34 K:BB ratio across 165.2 IP

Lilliquist, a right-hander, finished fourth in NL Rookie of the Year voting in his lone full season with the Braves in 1989, making 32 appearances (30 starts) with the major league club. During that season, Lilliquist pitched far more innings at 165.2, but Schwellenbach's season was likely more impressive via numbers such as ERA, strikeouts, and WAR in a shorter sample size.

Damian Moss, Right-Handed Pitcher (2002)

Rookie Stats: 12-6 record, 3.42 ERA, 111:89 K:BB ratio across 179 IP

After making his MLB debut in 2001, Moss finished fifth in 2022 NL Rookie of the Year voting with a 3.42 ERA and 2.0 WAR across 33 appearances, 29 of which were starts. When comparing the two seasons however, Schwellenbach's was likely far more impressive as the right-handed had a better WAR, along with a lot more strikeouts and less walks in a far greater sample size.

Jair Jurrjens, Right-Handed Pitcher (2008)

Rookie Stats: 13-10 record, 3.68 ERA, 139:70 K:BB ratio across 188.1 IP

After making his MLB debut in 2007 with the Detroit Tigers, Jurrjens finished third in 2008 NL Rookie of the Year voting with a 3.68 ERA across 188.1 IP. The right-hander had a larger rookie sample size than Schwellenbach, but Jurrjens struggled a lot more with walks.

Tommy Hanson, Right-Handed Pitcher (2009)

Rookie Stats: 11-4 record, 2.89 ERA, 116:46 K:BB ratio across 127.2 IP

Hanson finished third in the NL Rookie of the Year in 2009 coming off a season in which he held a 2.89 ERA across 21 starts. Hanson's numbers were likely slightly better than that of Schwellenbach's such as his 2.89 ERA and 3.9 WAR.

Julio Teheran, Right-Handed Pitcher (2013)

Rookie Stats: 14-8 record, 3.20 ERA, 170:45 K:BB ratio across 185.2 IP

After seeing limited action in 2011 and 2012 with Atlanta, Teheran truly broke out in 2013 when the right-hander finished fifth in NL Rookie of the Year voting. Teheran had far more innings pitched than Schwellenbach, with the number likely most comparable to the right-hander being his 2.9 WAR.

Mike Soroka, Right-Handed Pitcher (2019)

Rookie Stats: 13-4 record, 2.68 ERA, 142:41 K:BB ratio across 174.2 IP

Soroka originally made his MLB debut with the Braves in 2018, and followed that up with a 2019 season where he owned a 2.68 ERA across 174.2 IP to finish as the runner-up for the Rookie of the Year, sixth in Cy Young voting, and make the All-Star Game. The right-hander had a larger sample size pitched as a rookie than Schwellenbach, with his numbers such as a 6.1 WAR also better.

Ian Anderson, Right-Handed Pitcher (2020-21)

Rookie Stats: 3-2 record, 1.95 ERA, 41:14 K:BB ratio across 32.1 IP in 2020 - 9-5 record, 3.58 ERA, 124:53 K:BB ratio across 128.1 IP

Anderson finished Top 10 in NL Rookie of the Year voting twice to begin his career, placing seventh in 2020, as well as fifth in 2021. Anderson's 2021 campaign likely compares very similarly to Schwellenbach's however, as the only significant different was that Anderson had more walks.

Spencer Strider, Right-Handed Pitcher (2022)

Rookie Stats: 11-5 record, 2.67 ERA, 202:45 K:BB ratio across 131.2 IP

Atlanta's most recent great rookie pitcher prior to Schwellenbach came back in 2022 with Strider, who finished as the runner-up to teammate Michael Harris II for the NL Rookie of the Year. However, Strider's 2022 rookie campaign was likely far more impressive due to his ERA and strikeout total, as well as his 3.8 WAR.

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