WATCH: Top Braves Prospect Strikes Out Former MVP on Three Pitches
The Atlanta Braves are going to have rotation questions after the 2024 season.
Forty-year-old Charlie Morton and staff ace Max Fried will both be reaching free agency, and there's no sign as of now of a pending contract extension for either starter.
Luckily, the Braves may have answers as well, because top prospect AJ Smith-Shawver is absolutely DEALING this spring.
Facing off with the New York Yankees from George M. Steinbrenner Field in Tampa, Smith-Shawver squared off with 2022 American League MVP and noted slugger Aaron Judge.
It wasn't even a contest, with Smith-Shawver striking him out in three pitches. Smith-Shawver challenged the Yankees captain with two early curveballs before getting him to strikeout looking at a front-door slider.
As this is a Statcast game, we can see the details of what Smith-Shawver threw Judge, and it's good stuff:
But despite being staked to a 4-0 lead in the first inning, it wasn't smooth sailing for Smith-Shawver in the 2nd inning. After a leadoff single to Gleyber Torres and a Giancarlo Stanton double to put runners on 2nd and 3rd, both of them scored thanks to an Alex Verdugo single and a Jose Trevino sacrifice fly. All three of the hits came on pitches that were left close to the heart of the strike zone, something that's plagued Smith-Shawver in the past.
Smith-Shawver is battling for the 5th spot in the rotation with Bryce Elder and Reynaldo López, although the expectation is that Smith-Shawver will start the season in AAA Gwinnett.
UPDATE: Smith-Shawver did it again, striking out Judge on a changeup in the slugger's second plate appearance.