The Atlanta Braves officially call up AJ Smith-Shawver to start tonight's series finale against the Cubs

It's the #1 prospect's first start in the majors since late July

The Atlanta Braves have officially called up #1 prospect AJ Smith-Shawver to start tonight's series finale against the Chicago Cubs. 

The #Braves today recalled RHP AJ Smith-Shawver to Atlanta after optioning RHP Darius Vines to Triple-A Gwinnett following last night’s game.

— Atlanta Braves (@Braves) September 28, 2023

Smith-Shawver, 20, is 1-0 with a 4.57 ERA in his five major league appearances this season (four starts). It's been a rapid ascent through the farm system for Smith-Shawver, who started the season with High-A Rome before making his MLB debut in early June with a scoreless multi-inning relief stint against the Diamondbacks. 

Smith-Shawver's getting the start tonight, but there's questions as to how deep into the ballgame he'll be able to pitch. He was placed on the minor league injured-list in late August with shoulder inflammation, and since returning has pitched only three times in the minors. The first two of those outings were around 30 pitches, while the third and final, coming on September 22nd, was forty-two pitches across two scoreless innings. 

But Atlanta has relief options to slot in behind Smith-Shawver; Kyle Wright is in the bullpen and hasn't pitched since Sunday, where he took only thirty-one pitches to get through three innings against Washington, with one run on three hits. 

The corresponding move to make room for Smith-Shawver on the roster was to option Darius Vines back to AAA Gwinnett. Vines, who put up a quality start against the Cubs last night, has put himself on the short list for an emergency start in the postseason should the need arise. We'll have more on that later today. 

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