Braves top prospect keeps throwing hat in ring for pitching help

The Atlanta Braves may have something special cooking at Triple-A with AJ Smith-Shawver.

With Max Fried and Kyle Wright on the mend for the foreseeable future, look for promising farmhands like AJ Smith-Shawver to potentially help out the Atlanta Braves later this summer.

Smith-Shawver made his Triple-A debut on Friday night, going five innings in the Gwinnett Stripers’ 5-4 win over the Memphis Redbirds. He struck out five batters and walked two, while surrendering two earned runs on four hits for Gwinnett. At only 20 years old, Smith-Shawver has quickly risen through the Atlanta system. He has also pitched for Rome and Mississippi this year.

Admittedly, he may be too green to contribute to the Braves this soon, but late-season necessity could create a real opportunity for him before Smith-Shawver’s 21st birthday in late November.

Atlanta Braves are getting good returns in minor leagues with AJ Smith-Shawver

Even if Smith-Shawver has been in the Braves system for a few years now, it is still so rare to see even a top prospect thriving at the major-league level well before he is 22. Then again, when a guy has star potential, it presents itself early. Not to say Smith-Shawver will be to the Atlanta rotation what Spencer Strider has been for the last season or so, but the Braves do have arms, everybody!

I think what has been impressive about Smith-Shawver’s climb through the Braves minor league system is each subsequent stage hasn’t been too big for him. Again, it was only one start at Triple-A vs. the St. Louis Cardinals’ minor-league affiliate, but Triple-A is as high as a top prospect can go without making the show. Some guys skip Triple-A entirely, but Smith-Shawver seems to be close.

Overall, Atlanta is still in a great spot at this point of the year, despite all of its injuries. A scorching hot start and an ability to beat up on lesser teams has served the Braves this season. However, they have looked outmatched at times vs. teams they could conceivably face in the NLDS and beyond. Alex Anthopoulos will need to address that, especially if the Braves are lacking arm talent.

The good news is players like Smith-Shawver are showing that this farm system is actually deep.