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CALL-UP ETA: June-July
ANALYSIS: AJ Smith-Shawver was drafted in 2021, but by 2023 he made it all the way to the majors, making six appearances (five starts) for Atlanta last season. The righty posted a 4.26 ERA and 1.11 WHIP during his time with the big league club. A strong strikeout rate helped propel him to his MLB debut, but he posted just a 19.0% K% and an 8.6% K-BB% in his six appearances. Smith-Shawver also allowed seven home runs in his 25.1 IP. All of that was as a 20-year-old, though, so in many ways he exceeded expectations.
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Over seven starts at Triple-A in 2024, the 21-year-old has a 5.96 ERA and 1.52 WHIP, plus a 17.1% HR/FB%, so he's not exactly forcing the issue for a promotion. His K% is still solid at 23.3%, but right now he's walking too many batters as the BB% stands at 12.9%. Expect Atlanta's top prospect (MLB N0. 58) to work on getting that under control. The Braves, as do all teams at some point, will need more pitching as the season progresses, so expect Smith-Shawver to be in Atlanta by mid-season, if not sooner.
AJ Smith-Shawver spins five scoreless for Triple-A @GoStripers ⚾️
The @Braves' No. 1 prospect topped out at 💯 mph and racked up 17 swings-and-misses. pic.twitter.com/4tgCuLQxF6
— MLB Pipeline (@MLBPipeline) May 1, 2024
Based on his age, his debut from a year ago, and his performance so far this season, don't expect Smith-Shawver to come up and dominate. Pitching for the Braves, however, should provide ample opportunities to win games. For pitching-starved managers looking for some depth and potential upside, the youngster can be picked up in 95% of Yahoo leagues.
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