When Spencer Schellenbach was drafted in 2021 he immediately fell victim to Tommy John surgery. However, once Schwellenbach was healthy he became a quick riser through the system, and eventually the Atlanta Braves struck gold with his masterful 2024 rookie campaign.
The Braves have a heavy pitching focused Top 30 prospects list, and one somewhat forgotten arm could be Atlanta's next Spencer Schwellenbach in 2026. Owen Murphy was Atlanta's 2022 first round pick, and was dominating High-A by racking up league leading strikeout numbers and a stellar 1.54 ERA in his first seven starts of the season.
Murphy's excellent work seemed to have him primed for inclusion in national top 100 prospect lists. Unfortunately, his 2024 season was cut short with Tommy John surgery, and all of the hype around Murphy had to take a backseat.
Last season, Murphy made his much anticipated return in July, and picked up right where he left off. The Braves no. 8 prospect made six starts for High-A Rome last season, and his numbers should generate a ton of excitement for the leaps he can take in 2026.
Why Owen Murphy could be the next Braves stud in the rotation
Schwellenbach was not the top pitching prospect in Atlanta's system when he made the jump from Double-A to the big leagues. Despite being ranked behind Hurston Waldrep and AJ Smith-Shawver, Schwellenbach received an aggressive promotion back in 2024 thanks to his impressive strike-throwing ability.
Owen Murphy possesses a similar profile, as he has lived in the strike zone throughout his pro career. In 27.1 innings with Rome last season, Murphy posted a 1.32 ERA with 29 strikeouts against just six walks. While Murphy does not throw with the same velocity as Schwellenbach, his high spin-rate fastball, paired with his ability to mix multiple offspeed offerings for strikes, makes him one of the most intriguing pitchers in the system.
Like 2024 Schwellenbach, Owen Murphy is listed behind other Braves pitchers in MLB Pipeline’s prospect rankings. Often hyped pitchers like JR Ritchie, Cam Caminiti, and Didier Fuentes all rank above Murphy, but that does not mean he cannot leapfrog them in 2026. Next season will be a major test for Murphy, as he is expected to reach Double-A, a level that represents a significant step up in competition. It will also be Murphy’s first full season post–Tommy John surgery, which is often when pitchers begin to fully regain their stuff and command.