Smith-Shawver completes rapid climb to majors

AJ Smith-Shawver just rose from High-A ball to the Atlanta Braves roster in one season.

Alexa, play “Started From The Bottom.”

Play it loud because AJ Smith-Shawver just rose from High-A ball to the Atlanta Braves roster in one season.

Around this time two years ago, that song might’ve been appropriate for Smith-Shawver because he was graduating high school. Before tonight’s matchup versus the A’s, it’s far more appropriate because the Braves announced they are promoting their 2021 seventh-round draft pick to the major league club after only 110 IP in the minors.

To make room for him on the roster, Atlanta designated left-handed reliever Lucas Luetge for assignment. After acquiring him from the Yankees this offseason, he produced a 10.24 ERA in 9.2 IP for the Braves this season. That leaves AJ Minter and Jared Shuster as the only lefty arms on the Braves.

All of Smith-Shawver’s seven appearances this season have been starts, and after the Braves promoted starter Michael Soroka from Gwinnett yesterday, it means the Braves have six starters on their roster if they intend to use Smith-Shawver to start games.

The Braves could either be bringing him up to bolster a struggling bullpen or in the continued search of another reliable starter. Soroka gave up four runs in six innings to the A’s last night, and Shuster has allowed 15 ER in 25.1 IP this season with 15 walks and 20 strikeouts. Soroka’s outing looked encouraging, and Shuster has done enough to keep himself on the club, but a red-hot Smith-Shawver has made it way too easy of a choice for the Braves to give him a shot.

Even if he starts out in the bullpen, so did Spencer Strider. He was so effective out of the pen that it made the decision to give him starts debatable. Look how that has turned out.

However they use him, he has been lights out in his bolt up the ladder. It only took Alex Anthopolous watching him start two games in Gwinnett to convince him a promotion was in order. In his latest start, Smith-Shawver completed seven innings, allowing two runs on four hits with three walks and eight Ks.

His fastball-slider combo continued to dazzle, as his heater averaged 95.1 mph while he continued to pound the mitt until the end. His next-to-last fastball registered at 96.1, and hitters still have to account for his hard slider and the possibility of a curveball – which he used sparingly in his start at AAA, just twice.

Gwinnett was just the culmination of a strong season for the 21-year-old, who will wear No. 62 with the Braves. Among three single-A, two double-A and two triple-A starts, he’s amassed a 2-1 record, 1.09 ERA, 45 Ks and 0.94 WHIP in 33 IP.

He’s made 28 career minor league appearances, and he struck out 164 in 110 innings. His rise is one of the most improbable, but if the Braves have learned anything from the past two years, the decision to promote Smith-Shawver was a no-brainer.

If you thought Soroka Shove Day or even Shuster Shove Day was fun to say, get ready for Smith-Shawver Shove Day. Don’t be surprised if tomorrow comprised of two of those shove days. Shuster is listed as the starter for game three in Oakland, but the Braves might be using this series with the MLB’s worst team to roll out all the young guns.

Check out Braves Today on Socials!
Follow Braves Today on Twitter!
Like Braves Today on Facebook!
Check out the homepage for more Atlanta Braves News!
Subscribe to Braves Today on YouTube!
Get Exclusive Braves Merchandise from FOCO