Atlanta Braves

Sean Murphy

C

Murphy has rejoined Atlanta to continue rehabbing from hip surgery. He will work out with the big club early this week before taking live batting practice with Rome on Wednesday. Murphy has not played in a game setting in nearly seven months, so he will need more than just a few rehab contests before being activated from the 10-day injured list. The 31-year-old could be ready for his season debut around the beginning of May.

Spencer Strider

SP

Strider is expected to throw a live batting practice session at some point during the team's road trip that runs from April 2 through 8, and Atlanta will have a better idea at that point when the right-hander will be ready to pitch in a game. The right-hander is eligible for activation from the 15-day injured list April 6, and while he won't be ready to return by that date, it might not be much later than that.

Ha-Seong Kim

SS

Kim isn't expected to be ready to make his season debut until at least some point in the first half of May after he required surgery in January to address a torn tendon in his right middle finger. The 30-year-old reported to spring training March 16 to resume taking part in baseball activities, though he has yet to be cleared to resume swinging a bat. Mauricio Dubon is expected to serve as Atlanta's everyday shortstop while Kim is on the shelf.

Daysbel Hernandez

RP

Atlanta has proceeded slowly with Hernandez in camp after he finished last season on the injured list while recovering from right shoulder inflammation, but the club has yet to confirm that the 29-year-old reliever will open 2026 on the shelf. That said, Atlanta has just three more exhibition games prior to Opening Day, so Hernandez will likely need to pitch in at least one of those contests in order to have a shot at breaking camp with the big club.

Danny Young

RP

Young is unlikely to be ready to make his season debut for Atlanta until later this summer while he works his way back from Tommy John surgery, which he underwent back in May. The southpaw reliever could be shifted to the 60-day IL at some point when Atlanta needs to open up another spot on the 40-man roster.

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.

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.

Joey Wentz

RP

The transaction clears a 40-man roster spot for waiver claim Osvaldo Bido. Wentz will miss the entire 2026 campaign following ACL surgery earlier this month.

Jurickson Profar

LF

The 33-year-old outfielder was handed the suspension in early March, and the ban is now official with the appeal process completed. It's the second straight season with a PED suspension for Profar, who will also be ineligible to play in the postseason.

Spencer Schwellenbach

SP

The team hasn't issued a timeline for Schwellenbach's return, but manager Walt Weiss said that he's hopeful that the 25-year-old right-hander will be able to pitch at some point in 2026. At the very least, Schwellenbach will miss the first two months of the season, after Atlanta placed him on its 60-day injured list last week. Atlanta's rotation is already being tested in the early stages of the season; Hurston Waldrep (elbow) is slated to undergo a similar procedure as Schwellenbach on Monday, and AJ Smith-Shawver (elbow) is unlikely to be available until late in the second half after undergoing Tommy John surgery last June.

Joe Jimenez

RP

Jimenez won't participate in spring training after he required a cleanup procedure on his left knee in November. The reliever previously had surgery to address cartilage damage in the same knee in November 2024, resulting in him missing the entire 2025 season. Weiss described Jimenez's more recent setback with the knee as a "very complex injury," prompting Atlanta to take a cautious approach with his recovery. After being placed on the 60-day injured list Tuesday, Jimenez won't be available for the first two months of the season, and given Weiss' pessimistic comments, the 31-year-old righty seems likely to be sidelined through at least the All-Star break.