The Atlanta Braves have officially confirmed the severity of AJ Smith-Shawver’s arm injury, and it’s as serious as many feared. The team announced Monday that the young pitcher has undergone Tommy John surgery, ending speculation about whether a less invasive internal brace procedure might suffice. This procedure significantly extends his recovery timeline, effectively sidelining him for a lengthy period.
Smith-Shawver had been a promising contributor this season, delivering a 3.86 ERA over nine starts. One particularly rough outing on May 22 skewed his overall numbers, but before that, he looked like a strong contender for Rookie of the Year, potentially rivaling fellow Braves prospect Drake Baldwin.
Had he avoided full UCL reconstruction, there might have been hope for a 2026 return. Now, while there’s an outside shot he could pitch late in that season, it’s far more likely he won’t be back until early 2027.
This development, while not entirely unexpected, is yet another setback in what has become a deeply frustrating season for the Braves, who seem unable to catch a break in 2025.
