Get notified by email when this case is updated.
Written by: E. George
Published June 11, 2025 @ 8:15 AM ET
COBB COUNTY, Ga. – The Atlanta Braves’ pitching staff took another significant hit Monday as rookie starter AJ Smith-Shawver underwent Tommy John surgery, while veteran reliever Craig Kimbrel opted for free agency following a brief return to the organization.
Smith-Shawver, 22, had his ulnar collateral ligament in his right elbow reconstructed in a procedure performed by Dr. Keith Meister in Arlington, Texas. The injury, first revealed in late May, occurred during a start against the Philadelphia Phillies when the right-hander exited after 2 2/3 innings. Initial signs of trouble appeared during a third-inning at-bat against Philadelphia’s Trea Turner, and subsequent medical evaluations confirmed a UCL tear.
The surgery will sideline Smith-Shawver for the remainder of the 2025 season and possibly well into 2026, depending on his recovery timeline. Tommy John procedures typically require a 12- to 15-month rehabilitation period, and the Braves are preparing for the possibility that he may not be ready until midseason next year, if not later.
Smith-Shawver had shown promise in his second major league season, posting a 3.86 ERA with 42 strikeouts across 44 1/3 innings. He began the year strong, carrying a 2.33 ERA through his first seven starts before faltering in a rough outing against Washington on May 22.
His absence compounds Atlanta’s pitching woes. With Reynaldo López already on the 60-day injured list due to shoulder inflammation, the Braves’ current rotation is composed of Chris Sale, Spencer Strider, Spencer Schwellenbach, Grant Holmes, and Bryce Elder. López is not expected to be re-evaluated until mid-July, leaving the team thin on experienced arms in the interim.
In a separate development, the Braves parted ways with one of the most decorated relievers in franchise history. Kimbrel, 37, elected free agency two days after being designated for assignment. The team had attempted to send him outright to Triple-A Gwinnett following a brief stint with the major league club.
Kimbrel, who holds the Braves’ franchise record with 186 saves, had returned in hopes of reigniting his career in Atlanta, where he was a four-time All-Star from 2011 to 2014. He pitched in only one game during his latest call-up, delivering a scoreless inning in an extra-innings loss to San Francisco. Prior to that, he had compiled a 2.00 ERA over 18 minor league appearances in Gwinnett and Double-A Columbus.
The veteran right-hander is seeking to rebound from a difficult 2024 season in Baltimore, where he posted a 5.33 ERA and was released last September. Despite limited recent success, he remains an experienced bullpen option for teams in search of late-inning help.
As the Braves look to stabilize their pitching staff amid a stretch of inconsistent play, the loss of Smith-Shawver for the foreseeable future and Kimbrel’s departure mark two significant developments in a season already marked by injury setbacks and shifting personnel.