AJ Smith-Shawver DVOA, Advanced Stats, & Fantasy Rankings

Atlanta Braves right-hander AJ Smith-Shawver (elbow) will visit with orthopedic surgeon Keith Meister in Arlington, Texas, on Thursday after suffering a torn UCL in his right elbow. Smith-Shawver is likely to have Tommy John surgery this week, according to The Athletic's David O'Brien. We already knew the 22-year-old would be done for the rest of the 2025 season, but it's good news he'll be getting the surgery out of the way as soon as possible. It's unclear if he'll also have an internal-brace procedure, but either way, he might not be ready for his 2026 debut until the second half of that campaign. The former seventh-rounder can obviously be dumped in season-long fantasy leagues after going 3-2 with a 3.86 ERA and 1.42 WHIP in nine starts before his injury. For now, right-hander Bryce Elder is the one taking over Smith-Shawver's starting-rotation spot in Atlanta.

Atlanta Braves right-hander AJ Smith-Shawver (elbow) has been diagnosed with a torn UCL in his right elbow and will likely need Tommy John surgery, according to manager Brian Snitker. Smith-Shawver will undergo further evaluation, but the surgical procedure hasn't been decided upon yet. Right-hander Bryce Elder will make the start for the Braves on Sunday against the Boston Red Sox. This was the expectation after the 22-year-old heard a pop in his elbow and was pulled after 2 2/3 innings in Game 1 of a doubleheader on Thursday against the Philadelphia Phillies. It's a tough break for a Braves team that has had it's fair share of injuries the last couple seasons. Smith-Shawver will miss the rest of 2025 and most likely at least half of the 2026 campaign if he undergoes elbow reconstruction, as expected. He finishes his season with a 3.86 ERA and 1.42 WHIP with 42 K's and 21 walks in 44 1/3 innings over nine starts.

The Atlanta Braves announced on Friday that they placed right-hander AJ Smith-Shawver (elbow) on the 60-day injured list. Smith-Shawver suffered a strained elbow in his start in Game 1 of a doubleheader against the Philadelphia Phillies on Thursday and was immediately placed on the 15-day IL. Manager Brian Snitker said Smith-Shawver's injury didn't look good, and the move to put him on the 60-day IL a day later speaks to the seriousness of the 22-year-old's injury. MLB.com's Mark Bowman reported on Thursday that Smith-Shawver felt a pop in his elbow during his outing and is likely to miss the rest of the 2025 season. The Braves have yet to confirm the nature of Smith-Shawver's injury, but it could only be a matter of time before he's officially declared out for the season. At the very least, he'll miss the next two months.