Braves get worst-case injury updates on Hurston Waldrep, Spencer Schwellenbach

Atlanta Braves pitcher Hurston Waldrep. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

Braves get worst-case injury updates on Hurston Waldrep, Spencer Schwellenbach

By Andrew Wright | Last updated Aug 28, 2026 5:00 PM ET

The Atlanta Braves pitching has been decimated by injuries throughout the entire 2026 season. The outlook for next season is already a bit bleak as well with an update from Braves manager Walt Weiss on Friday afternoon.

Hurston Waldrep is undergoing Tommy John surgery

Weiss revealed that 2023 first-round pick Hurston Waldrep will be undergoing Tommy John surgery. Waldrep began this season on the injured list while recovering from elbow surgery to remove loose bodies.

He'll now undergo a second elbow surgery, and this time it will likely cause him to miss all of the 2027 season. Right-hander Spencer Schwellenbach will also undergo surgery on the same elbow he broke during the 2025 season.

Hurston Waldrep will have Tommy John surgery and Spencer Schwellenbach will have surgery to repair the same elbow fracture he suffered last year. The Braves still aren’t saying Strider’s season is done. But that has been the assumption since June
— Mark Bowman (@mlbbowman) August 28, 2026

Atlanta can't get its pitching healthy

As noted above, Atlanta has struggled with pitching injuries all season. Waldrep, Schwellenbach, AJ Smith-Shawver, Spencer Strider, Reynaldo Lopez and more are all starters who have missed time at some point this season.

If not for the stellar work of the 37-year-old Chris Sale, the Braves would have one of the worst starting staffs in all of baseball. Somehow, though, Sale and Grant Holmes have kept the staff afloat and atop the NL East throughout the entire season.

Starting pitching should be an offseason priority

The impending MLB lockout will certainly play a key role in if and when next season will begin.

If baseball is played in 2027, Atlanta will certainly need to be aggressive in the pursuit of starting pitching in the offseason.

Andrew Wright

Andrew "Dew" Wright graduated from Charleston Southern University with a degree in Communication Studies. He is a lifelong Chicago Cubs and Washington Commanders fan.

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