The Big Lead

MLB News: Rookie of the Year Award favorite suffers season-ending injury

The 22-year-old right-hander will undergo a surgery to be determined.

By J.P. Hoornstra

Atlanta Braves starting pitcher AJ Smith-Shawver (62) in the dugout against the Colorado Rockies in the first inning at Truist Park on June 15, 2023
Atlanta Braves starting pitcher AJ Smith-Shawver (62) in the dugout against the Colorado Rockies in the first inning at Truist Park on June 15, 2023 / Brett Davis-Imagn Images
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In a recent poll of 34 MLB.com staffers, the early favorite to capture the National League Rookie of the Year Award was Atlanta Braves pitcher A.J. Smith-Shawver.

At the time (May 20), Smith-Shawver's 2.33 ERA in seven starts led all qualified NL rookies. So did his 40 strikeouts. Opponents were hitting just .218 against him.

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Smith-Shawver is still eligible for the Rookie of the Year award, but he is no longer the favorite. The hard-throwing righty has a torn UCL in his right elbow and will undergo season-ending surgery.

Regardless of the surgery prescribed for Smith-Shawver, he'll miss the rest of the 2025 season and likely part of 2026, as well.

In nine starts, he went 3-2 with a 3.86 ERA, with 42 strikeouts in 44.1 innings. Smith-Shawver was a valuable cog in a Braves rotation that's been missing veteran Reynaldo Lopez (shoulder surgery) and Spencer Strider (Tommy John surgery recovery; hamstring strain) for all or part of this season.

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Now, Atlanta will look to others to fill in as it looks to salvage a season that began with seven consecutive losses, and still has the Braves three games under .500 (26-29) through Thursday.

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