Atlanta Braves Young Pitcher Gets Hefty Praise From ESPN Heading into Year 2

After a breakout season in 2024, Spencer Schwellenbach will work on providing an ecore performance for Atlanta in 2025.

Atlanta Braves starting pitcher Spencer Schwellenbach (56) throws in 2024 at Truist Park. | Brett Davis-Imagn Images

Despite injuries to Ronald Acuna Jr., Spencer Strider and Ozzie Albies last season, the Atlanta Braves still made the playoffs, finishing second in the National League East.

Though they were beaten by the San Diego Padres in the wild card round, the Braves enter the 2025 season with big expectations once again. Strider and Acuna will be back form injury in the first half of the season, and the Braves went out and brought in All-Star Jurickson Profar to help lengthen the lineup even further.

And there's also the development of young pitcher Spencer Schwellenbach, which is exciting people all across baseball this spring, according to a recent article from ESPN.com:

With a six-pitch mix -- four- and two-seam fastballs, slider, cutter, curveball, splitter -- the 24-year-old Schwellenbach keeps hitters off-balance and commands the ball with the presence of someone beyond his age. As good as last year was, there's more in the tank -- and in a loaded top of the NL East, Atlanta will need it.

10 players MLB scouts are buzzing about... These potential breakout stars are drawing rave reviews early in spring training.https://t.co/rme0vlqcxL

— Buster Olney (@Buster_ESPN) March 5, 2025

The Michigan native played his college ball at Nebraska and was selected in the second round of the 2021 draft by the Braves. He went 8-7 in his debut season, pitching to a 3.35 ERA and striking out 127 in 123.2 innings.

He pairs with Chris Sale, Strider and Reynaldo Lopez to make up a solid top-four in the rotation when everyone is healthy. While Strider is out, Ian Anderson and Grant Holmes figure to get the first crack at the two remaining rotation spots.

Related MLB Stories

ROYALS TRIED DEALING: Even after acquiring Jonathan India this offseason, the Kansas City Royals reportedly tried to make multiple other big moves. CLICK HERE:

AARON JUDGE at TOP: Judge won the MVP last year in the American League, and he also is at the top of this interesting category, showing how feared he is by pitchers. CLICK HERE:

SEIYA TAKES FUN SHOT AT SKENES: Speaking to Japanese media, Seiya Suzuki had some high praise for Paul Skenes, while also poking a little fun at him and Livvy Dunne. CLICK HERE:

Follow Fastball on FanNation on social media

Continue to follow our Fastball on FanNation coverage on social media by liking us on Facebook and by following us on Twitter @FastballFN.