Pressure is on top Braves pitching prospects with free agency losses looming

Throughout the 2024 season, the Atlanta Braves starting rotation, even despite injuries to the likes of Max Fried and Reynaldo Lopez, has been one of the most productive parts of the entire roster.

However, even despite their success in 2024, there is still a big question mark looming over the group looking ahead to 2025, which is attributable to a variety of different factors.

While the likes of Chris Sale, Spencer Schwellenbach, and the aforementioned Lopez will certainly be back, the Braves two other members of the starting rotation in Fried and Charlie Morton are currently unknowns when it comes to the 2025 roster. That is because both of Fried and Morton are set to hit free agency at seasons end, with it unsure at the moment if either will be back in Atlanta next season.

Now yes, ace Spencer Strider will return at some point in 2025 from injury, but there is still no denying that the potential losses of both Fried and Morton would be massive if they were to happen. Because of this, it is important that some of the Braves younger arms who are MLB ready continue to develop going into next season to be ready to make an impact, with two names in particular sticking out from the rest with arguably more pressure than others.

AJ Smith-Shawver and Hurston Waldrep could join Atlanta Braves rotation in 2025

Those two names are the club's No. 2 and No. 3 prospects, respectively, in right-hander's AJ Smith-Shawver and Hurston Waldrep, both of which have seen time with the Braves at the big league level so far this season, as well as missed some time due to injury.

This season, Smith-Shawver has made one impressive start with Atlanta in which he pitched 4.1 scoreless innings, but has struggled in the minor leagues. Across 15 starts, the right-hander owns a 5.57 ERA and a 67:29 K:BB ratio across 53.1 IP.

As for Waldrep, the 2023 first round pick made his MLB debut for Atlanta earlier this season, but struggled across two starts. In the minor leagues, Waldrep has made 15 starts where he owns a 3.68 ERA and 78:34 K:BB across 71 IP.

Should both of Fried and Morton not return next season, then Smith-Shawver and Waldrep would be expected to likely step into significant roles in 2025 as part of the big league rotation. However, if one of them returned, if not both, then Smith-Shawver and Waldrep would likely still be competing for a roster spot in spring training.

Simply put, with the 2025 status of Fried and Morton in question, the pressure might be on for some of the Braves younger arms to step up going forward.

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