Atlanta Braves

Daysbel Hernandez

RP

Hernandez had been on the shelf since Sept. 12 due to right shoulder inflammation, and his move to the 60-day IL officially spells an end to his season. Before getting hurt, Hernandez made 39 appearances out of the Atlanta bullpen and logged a 3.41 ERA, 1.54 WHIP and 33:30 K:BB across 37 innings.

Hurston Waldrep

SP

Bowman reported previously that if surgery was recommended for Waldrep, the pitcher would likely be sidelined for approximately three months. The right-hander will be placed on the 60-day injured list, though that transaction hasn't officially been made yet. Waldrep showed signs of a breakout in 2025 with a 2.88 ERA, 1.19 WHIP and 55:22 K:BB over 56.1 innings, but it will be a while before he's seen in a big-league uniform again. With Spencer Schwellenbach also undergoing an elbow procedure, Joey Wentz and Bryce Elder have moved up in Atlanta's rotation pecking order.

Ha-Seong Kim

SS

Kim had surgery in January to repair a torn tendon in his right middle finger. The initial timeline provided had him returning in the second half of May as a best-case scenario, but is sounds like the veteran infielder could beat that projection. Mauricio Dubon is expected to be Atlanta's primary shortstop while Kim recovers.

Sean Murphy

C

Murphy had surgery in September to repair a right hip labral tear and is slated to begin running exercises Tuesday. He should stay back at extended spring training while his team his team heads north ahead of Opening Day, with a rehab assignment likely kicking off in April. Once healthy, Murphy is expected to share catching duties with Drake Baldwin.

Danny Young

RP

It's a split contract for Young, who will miss at least the first half of the 2026 season while recovering from Tommy John surgery. The left-handed reliever holds a career 4.01 ERA and 78:25 K:BB over 60.2 innings covering parts of four major-league seasons, which includes stints in Atlanta in 2022 and 2023.

AJ Smith-Shawver

SP

This was the expected outcome after Smith-Shawver was diagnosed with a torn UCL in his pitching elbow, which he suffered May 29. Smith-Shawver was placed on the 60-day injured list the following day and is looking at a lengthy rehab. Prior to his injury, Smith-Shawver (3-2) made nine starts for Atlanta this season, registering a 3.86 ERA and 42:21 K:BB across 44.1 innings of work. Grant Holmes and Bryce Elder round out Atlanta's rotation behind Chris Sale, Spencer Strider and Spencer Schwellenbach. Fellow starter Reynaldo Lopez (shoulder) remains on the 60-day IL.