MLB.com wants to see prospect Spencer Schwellenbach in the Arizona Fall League

The prospect folks over at MLB Pipeline, preparing for the pending conclusion of the minor league regular seasons, published their Arizona Fall League wish list with one prospect from each major league organization.

For the Atlanta Braves, they want to see RHP Spencer Schwellenbach on the mound in Arizona. Here's what they said about the righty from Nebraska:

The Braves have been understandably cautious with Schwellenbach this season, his first action in pro ball since he needed Tommy John surgery soon after joining the organization as its second-round pick in 2021. But he also missed a month of the summer, landing on the injured list not long after his Futures Game appearance with shoulder inflammation and costing him starts with High-A Rome. He finished the year with 11 shoutout innings over two starts and could be one of the more intriguing arms to watch in the AFL.

As they mentioned, Schwellenbach missed time over the summer but had a really good season overall, with a 5-2 record and 2.49 ERA in 16 starts divided between Single-A Augusta and High-A Rome.

He struck out only 55 in 65 innings (7.6 K/9), lower than you'd typically like to see form a starting pitcher in the minors, but it was very clearly a case of a guy getting back to form after a major surgery (Schwellenbach had Tommy John surgery after being drafted by Atlanta in 2nd round of the 2021 draft).

In a sign that his stuff was coming back, Schwellenbach's time in High-A Rome showed a 9.2 K/9 strikeout rate, with 14 strikeouts in his 13.2 innings, walking only one.

Teams are usually less comfortable sending top pitching prospects to Arizona, as the possibility of overwork is definitely a concern, but Schwellenbach's a unique case and some time in that environment would do him well.

Additionally, Atlanta's been more likely to send quality pitchers than other organizations to Arizona. In addition to rated position player prospects OF Justyn-Henry Malloy (later traded to Detroit) and SS Cal Conley last season, Atlanta also sent then-25th ranked prospect RHP William Woods, as well as RHP Allan Winans, who pitched for Atlanta at the major league level this season.

The Arizona Fall League season kicks off October 2nd and lasts for six weeks, with rosters being announced next week. More than 3,000 AFL players have gone through Arizona and later played in MLB, including Ronald Acuña Jr in 2017.

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