Braves RHP AJ Smith-Shawver diagnosed with torn UCL, moved to 60-day injured list
ATLANTA (AP) – Atlanta Braves rookie right-hander AJ Smith-Shawver has a torn UCL in his pitching elbow and will miss the rest of the season and likely the start of 2026.
Smith-Shawver left Thursday´s 5-4 loss to the Philadelphia Phillies in a doubleheader opener and said he felt a “pop.” The 22-year-old was initially placed on the 15-day injured list before being moved to the 60-day IL on Friday.
“(His evaluation) showed a tear on his imaging,” Braves manager Brian Snitker said Friday before Atlanta opened a three-game series against Boston. “He´ll consult with the physicians or doctors and they´ll decide what the next step is.”
Snitker said he didn’t know if Smith-Shawver would need Tommy John surgery.
On Thursday, Smith-Shawver appeared to say “pop” toward Snitker after a third-inning pitch to Trea Turner. He gave up a go-ahead, two-run homer to Rafael Marchán, then took a 96.6 mph line drive off his right ankle on a a ball hit by Bryson Stott with one out.
Smith-Shawver threw a warmup pitch and stayed in the game, then left after wincing while allowing a flyout to Turner on the fourth pitch of the at-bat.
