Waldrep and Schwellenbach to Undergo Season-Ending Elbow Surgery

Atlanta's rotation absorbed a significant blow as the Braves announced that starters Hurston Waldrep and Spencer Schwellenbach will each undergo season-ending elbow surgery, ending both pitchers' 2025 campaigns, per Mark Bowman at MLB.com.

Two starters. One announcement. The Braves' depth chart just got considerably shorter.

What we know

Both Waldrep and Schwellenbach are scheduled for elbow procedures that will bring their seasons to a close. The club's announcement covers both pitchers together, which is the kind of news that tends to arrive in pairs only in the worst possible way.

What remains unconfirmed

The specific nature of each procedure, recovery timelines, and any implications for future seasons have not been detailed in the announcement. Per earlier reporting, Schwellenbach's surgery involves a recurring fracture and his 2027 status is uncertain — though that uncertainty has not been formally addressed by the club in this announcement.

The bigger picture

The timing lands in the middle of what has otherwise been a striking stretch for Atlanta. Chris Sale threw a complete-game shutout against the Dodgers, helping the Braves close the NL postseason standings gap — and Ronald Acuña Jr. posted his first three-hit game of the season with encouraging exit velocity and sprint speed numbers. The rotation, however, now has two fewer arms to carry that momentum forward.

What to watch: how Atlanta addresses the rotation vacancies, and whether any further procedural details emerge for either pitcher.