07/29/2026
AJ Smith-Shawver is expected to make his season debut — the first time he’ll be toeing the rubber for the Braves since undergoing Tommy John surgery in May of last year.
In terms of the arm, Smith-Shawver looks as strong as ever. He was up to 86 pitches his last time out for Gwinnett, flashing a fastball that can still touch triple digits and a repertoire oozing with strikeout potential. Among the internal candidates returning from injury, Smith-Shawver is the most likely to make a significant impact down the stretch and into the postseason.
Tommy John surgery, or ulnar collateral ligament (UCL) reconstruction, is a procedure that repairs a torn elbow ligament using a tissue graft. It was first performed in 1974 by Dr. Frank Jobe on major league pitcher Tommy John.