Braves Pitcher Schwellenbach to Undergo Elbow Surgery

Bone spurs will require procedure, no timetable set for return

Feb. 11, 2026 at 10:55pm

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Atlanta Braves pitcher Spencer Schwellenbach revealed that he needs arthroscopic surgery to remove bone spurs in his elbow. Schwellenbach has not pitched since last June when he suffered a small fracture in his right elbow. There is no timeline for when the surgery will take place or how long his recovery will be.

Why it matters

Schwellenbach's injury is a significant setback for the Braves as they prepare for the upcoming season. The 25-year-old was expected to be a key part of their pitching rotation, and his absence leaves a hole that the team will need to fill through free agency or internal options.

The details

Schwellenbach said that bone spurs are "quite common in pitchers" and that the surgery to remove them has been done "many, many times." He expressed confidence in the procedure but acknowledged that the timeline for his recovery and return to throwing is still unknown. The Braves have already placed Schwellenbach on the 60-day injured list, ruling him out for the start of the season.

  • Schwellenbach has not pitched since last June when he suffered a small fracture in his right elbow.
  • The Braves placed Schwellenbach on the 60-day injured list on Tuesday, solidifying that he will miss Opening Day.

The players

Spencer Schwellenbach

A 25-year-old pitcher for the Atlanta Braves who needs arthroscopic surgery to remove bone spurs in his elbow.

Alex Anthopoulos

The general manager and president of baseball operations for the Atlanta Braves, who will need to make moves to fill the hole left by Schwellenbach's injury.

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What they’re saying

“Bone spurs are quite common in pitchers. Most people have them. It's whether or not they feel them or not. So, this is a surgery or scope procedure that's been done many, many times, and I'm pretty confident with it. I don't know what the exact days are to rest or to build back to throwing. But I guess we'll figure that out when the time comes.”

— Spencer Schwellenbach (atlantanewsfirst.com)

What’s next

The Braves will need to determine a timeline for Schwellenbach's surgery and recovery, and they will likely explore free agent options to bolster their pitching rotation in his absence.

The takeaway

Schwellenbach's injury is a setback for the Braves, but the team has experience dealing with pitching injuries and will need to rely on their depth and free agent market to fill the void left by his absence.