Fansided

Braves Rumors: 3 players who won’t be on the roster by July 1

By Mark Powell

ATLANTA, GA - MAY 20: Charlie Culberson #53 of the Atlanta Braves takes batting practice before the game between against the Seattle Mariners at Truist Park on May 20, 2023 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Matthew Grimes Jr./Atlanta Braves/Getty Images)
ATLANTA, GA - MAY 20: Charlie Culberson #53 of the Atlanta Braves takes batting practice before the game between against the Seattle Mariners at Truist Park on May 20, 2023 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Matthew Grimes Jr./Atlanta Braves/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
2 of 3
Next
Apr 26, 2014; Atlanta, GA, USA; Detailed view of Atlanta Braves hat and glove in the dugout against the Cincinnati Reds in the third inning at Turner Field. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 26, 2014; Atlanta, GA, USA; Detailed view of Atlanta Braves hat and glove in the dugout against the Cincinnati Reds in the third inning at Turner Field. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports /

Braves who won’t be back: A.J. Smith-Shawver

Eventually, A.J. Smith-Shawver could earn a full-time spot in the Atlanta rotation, but that time is not now. Expect the Braves to shuttle Smith-Shawver to and from Gwinnett quite a few times in his initial ascent to the big-league level, especially as some of their pitchers come off the injured list. Unless Smith-Shawver absolutely lights the world on fire as he has at other levels with his 12.9 K/9 rate in the ATL, then it’ll be tough to keep him up in the bigs thanks to basic roster limits.

Thankfully enough, Smith-Shawver has plenty of options left, and some Triple-A experience could do him some good as well. For now, though, Smith-Shawver is just happy to earn the opportunity.

“It’s kind of surreal,” he said. “The Braves had a lot of people that helped me develop and really guided me. I didn’t really know exactly what I was doing when I first got into it, and I think the guys around here, around this organization, really gave me the right tools to compete and gave me the opportunity.”

Atlanta sees Smith-Shawver as a hybrid starter and/or relief pitcher, depending on where he is needed. Assuming the entire rotation stays healthy as is, he’s needed more in the ‘pen at the moment. Brian Snitker ensured the media that Smith-Shawver will get at least one start in this year, though.

“We’re going to pitch him out of there for a while, kind of like we did with Spencer [Strider] last year,” Snitker said. “Try and get him multiple innings when we can. I think his future’s going to be starting, but this is a way to kind of break him in.”

Having a player like that is a good problem to have. Getting him innings at a consistent rate may be a problem if likes of Dylan Lee and Michael Tonkin come back anytime soon.

Home/Atlanta Braves