Braves Excited By AJ Smith-Shawver’s Progress
No prospect in Braves camp stood out more than their top one.
But on the surface, that might seem counterintuitive. Righthander AJ Smith-Shawver had an 8.22 ERA in 7.2 spring innings before he was optioned to Triple-A Gwinnett.
Yet the Braves raved about the 21-year-old’s growth from a year ago, when he made his MLB debut. He’s ready to take another step forward in 2024.
“Just how he’s growing, the improvement,” Braves manager Brian Snitker said. “The kid is getting better. The more he does it, the better he’s going to get at it.
“He’s got a great makeup, the realization of what he needs to work on—everything. It’s really, really impressive how he came into camp.”
The Braves drafted Smith-Shawver out of high school in Texas in the seventh round in 2021. Last season he pitched to a 4.26 ERA with 20 strikeouts and 11 walks in 25.1 innings over six appearances.
He spent most of 2023 with Gwinnett. He made 10 starts, logging a 4.17 ERA with 47 strikeouts and 26 walks in 41 innings.
Smith-Shawver has the most upside among the Braves’ stable of pitching prospects and will factor into the team’s plans as the season progresses. By next season, he should be a mainstay in the rotation.
“He’s terrific,” Braves ace Spencer Strider said. “I’ve been really impressed with him, from him getting called up and just feeling like a little guy, and now it’s like I struggle to remember that he’s four years younger than I am.
“His commitment to getting better and being the best version of himself is really strong. That’s fun for me. He likes to talk. He likes to learn and get better. We have a lot of good conversations bouncing stuff off each other.
“I thought, regardless of the stats, that he’s been throwing the ball really well this spring. I’m excited to see him up in the big leagues soon.”
SHORT NOTES
— Another spring standout was 20-year-old shortstop Nacho Alvarez. He went 5-for-19 and has continued generating buzz in the system. Last year he hit .284 with a .787 OPS for High-A Rome.
— Catcher Drake Baldwin has likewise earned positive reviews, especially for his development in the intricacies of the position. The 23-year-old will begin the season with Triple-A Gwinnett. He’s not too far from a potential MLB debut, though the Braves went with Travis d’Arnaud and Chadwick Tromp while Sean Murphy was sidelined with an oblique injury.
