Braves Eye 2026 Returns for Schwellenbach, Waldrep After Elbow Cleanups

The Atlanta Braves just got some rough news about their pitching staff. Two of their most promising young arms are heading for elbow surgeries, which could shake up the rotation and test the team’s depth right out of the gate.

Spencer Schwellenbach had elbow cleanup surgery on Wednesday. Hurston Waldrep is set for a similar procedure on Monday.

Both pitchers will land on the 60-day injured list. That means Atlanta will have to get by without two of their anticipated top-three starters for at least the first couple of months.

Injury updates: Schwellenbach and Waldrep

Schwellenbach needed bone spurs removed from his elbow, which might slow his recovery compared to Waldrep’s situation. Waldrep’s surgery will remove loose bodies—those annoying cartilage or bone chips—so he might bounce back a bit quicker.

Schwellenbach’s rehab got complicated after he felt elbow tightness following a 20-pitch bullpen session on January 30th. That setback ended his comeback from a right elbow fracture he suffered last June.

The Braves really hoped Schwellenbach would step up as a top-three starter this year. Now, that’s up in the air.

Waldrep, who put up a 2.88 ERA over 10 games last year, came into spring training with a lot of buzz. His velocity looked good, and his splitter was sharp in February.

With both pitchers sidelined, the rotation suddenly has a few holes. The club has to look beyond its original plans.

We still don’t know exactly how long either pitcher will be out. The Braves confirmed both will start the season on the 60-day injured list, so they’re not coming back before late spring at the earliest.

Atlanta now has to figure out how to cover innings and keep things competitive. The likely plan? Lean on some veterans and hope the farm system can provide a spark.

Holmes, Elder, and Wentz are out of minor-league options, which makes things trickier. To shore up depth, the Braves signed Carlos Carrasco and Martín Pérez to minor-league deals. These guys bring experience and could slide into the rotation if the need gets urgent.

Rotation and depth: what the Braves are planning

With the injuries, the Braves’ opening rotation will probably lean on a trio of proven arms. Chris Sale, Spencer Strider, and Reynaldo López look like the early anchors.

The fourth spot? That’s up for grabs between Grant Holmes and either Bryce Elder or Joey Wentz. Since Holmes, Elder, and Wentz can’t be sent to the minors, the team has less flexibility and needs to have a solid backup plan.

It’s not the way anyone wanted to start the season. But hey, sometimes you just have to improvise.

Projected rotation and depth options

• Chris Sale — veteran presence to anchor the early part of the season
• Spencer Strider — obvious frontline ace potential, if healthy
• Reynaldo López — veteran innings-eater with upside
• “Fourth starter” option: Grant Holmes and either Bryce Elder or Joey Wentz

Atlanta will lean on a mix of depth options and prospects beyond the main rotation. JR Ritchie and Didier Fuentes are interesting names to watch for late-season call-ups if the staff needs a spark.

There’s also a chance AJ Smith-Shawver could join the mix later on, assuming he keeps progressing in the system. The Braves have already added depth by picking up Carrasco and Pérez on minor-league deals, which feels like a smart move to handle the early-season chaos.

Atlanta’s health on the mound is going to shape how they patch together innings this year. With Schwellenbach and Waldrep out, the Braves suddenly need to fill a rotation gap, and they’ll have to do it with a mix of experienced arms and hungry prospects.

The front office is probably watching the depth chart shift every day, waiting to see who steps up or recovers. As timelines shift and the farm system churns out options, they’ll keep tweaking things to keep the pitching staff in the fight from the start.

 
Here is the source article for this story: Braves hope Schwellenbach, Waldrep can return in ’26 after elbow cleanups