Tuesday made for a busy day for the Atlanta Braves, as pitchers and catchers reported to the spring training facility in North Port, Florida. There were several storylines from the day, and in 2025 fashion, not all of them were great.
Most notably, it was announced that starting pitcher Spencer Schwellenbach has some inflammation in his right elbow, inevitably causing him to begin the 2026 campaign on the 60-day injured list. Should this timeline stick, he is eyeing an April return.
If this news was not frustrating enough, it was also reported that Robert Suarez, who the Braves signed in December, will arrive late to camp due to issues with his visa.
On a more positive note, Nacho Alvarez Jr. was spotted getting some reps in with the catchers, so the shortstop is possibly adding another position to his resume.
Lastly, the Braves have reportedly added a backup catcher after signing Jonah Heim to a one-year deal. Heim was non-tendered by the Texas Rangers after a lackluster 2025. The financials of the contract have not been confirmed, but the deal is rumored to be around $1.25M.
With camp just getting underway, more roster decisions and injury updates are likely to follow.
More Braves News:
Dylan Lee won his arbitration case over the Braves. He will make $2.2M in 2026, rather than the $2M that the club filed for.
The Braves have reacquired infielder Brett Wisely from the Tampa Bay Rays in exchange for cash. In January, the Braves first traded Wisely to the Rays. To open up a spot on the roster, right-hander Joe Jiménez was placed on the 60-day injured list.
The most recent PECOTA projections have the Braves finishing 2026 with a 92-70 record.
MLB News:
The Toronto Blue Jays pitching staff took a hit on Tuesday, announcing that Shane Bieber will start the season on the 15-day injured list due to forearm inflammation. In addition, fellow pitcher Bowden Francis will undergo Tommy John and miss the entire season.
The Tampa Bay Rays agreed to a one-year, $13M deal with right-hander Nick Martinez.
Detroit Tigers pitcher Reese Olson will miss all of 2026 due to shoulder surgery. He was placed on the 60-day injured list to open up a spot for Justin Verlander, who returns to Detroit on a one-year, $13M deal.
Kyle Wright, former Braves hurler, is joining the Chicago Cubs on a minor league deal.
New York Mets star Juan Soto is shifting around the outfield and will play left field in 2026.
Shortstop Francisco Lindor is being evaluated for a stress reaction in his hamate bone. It is unclear if he will require surgery at this point.
The Colorado Rockies signed right-hander Tomoyuki Sugano to a one-year, $5.1M contract. In a corresponding move, the club placed Kris Bryant on the 60-day injured list with a back injury.
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