TAMPA — For a prospect, it is likely to be laborious to think about a greater yr than AJ Smith-Shawver had in 2023, which he started with Excessive-A Rome and completed within the Nationwide League Division Sequence as a 20-year-old. However this spring, Smith-Shawver mentioned his most important objective is to “preserve getting higher” — and that is likely to be unhealthy information for the remainder of the Nationwide League.
“That’s the principle factor for me,” Smith-Shawver mentioned. “If I’m constantly getting higher, I’m shifting in the fitting path.”
In that sense, it’s been a wildly profitable spring already for Smith-Shawver, who — even when he doesn’t crack Atlanta’s Opening Day roster — has spent camp exhibiting why he’s the Braves’ high prospect. The most recent instance got here Sunday, when the 21-year-old righty held his personal towards a Yankees lineup stuffed with All-Stars and regulars in Atlanta’s 9-8 loss at George M. Steinbrenner Area.
Making his third Grapefruit League begin, Smith-Shawver struck out three in three-plus innings, and although he was finally charged with 4 earned runs, that line belies the dearth of laborious contact he allowed and the strides he continues to make in a spring the place growth stays the precedence.
“Our coaches are on the identical web page right here,” Smith-Shawver mentioned. “I’m not attempting to let folks rating, however occupied with competing and making pitches greater than outcomes. You need to make the staff and be on the roster, nevertheless it’s nonetheless early and I must develop and get higher.”
To that finish, working additional to include a changeup as a 3rd offspeed pitch continues to be a spotlight, significantly towards left-handed hitters. Seventeen p.c of the pitches Smith-Shawver threw on Sunday have been changeups, 5% greater than his output from six huge league appearances final season. One other focus: refining command and limiting walks; he’s issued simply three in three Grapefruit League begins.
In between, he’s proven flashes of the dominant arm many consider he can quickly be. Smith-Shawver’s fastball averaged 96.1 mph on Sunday and touched 97.7 mph. He struck out Aaron Choose on three pitches within the first and DJ LeMahieu on a 97.5 mph fastball within the second. One batter later, he used a changeup to win a two-out battle with Juan Soto to strand two runners and finish the inning.
“The changeup has been actually vital for me this spring,” Smith-Shawver mentioned. “I’m getting extra snug with that every outing. I really feel like the sport is slowing down for me a bit of bit in these [big] conditions.”
All instructed, he’s racked up an 11-3 strikeout-to-walk ratio in 7 2/3 innings this spring, although he’s additionally been charged with seven earned runs.
“It was thrilling to get him over right here as a result of he’s been throwing the ball very well,” supervisor Brian Snitker mentioned. “He’s cleaned up his supply. His stuff has been good all spring. He’s matured. He’s getting higher with innings. The extra we get him on the market, the higher he’s going to get, as a result of the child’s ceiling is basically, actually good. All he wants is expertise and innings.”
The sport’s No. 69 total prospect per MLB Pipeline, Smith-Shawver solely fell to the seventh spherical within the 2021 Draft as a result of groups thought he’d attend Texas Tech, the place he had an opportunity to play baseball and soccer. The Braves lured him away from that chance with an above-slot bonus, then watched him blossom two years later as he pitched his manner all the best way from Excessive-A Rome to the massive leagues and landed on Atlanta’s NLDS roster.
Regardless of his athleticism and dynamic stuff, Smith-Shawver nonetheless isn’t a completed product. However at 21 years of age, and on this group, he doesn’t should be.
The Braves have probably the most completed rotations within the sport, with Max Fried, Spencer Strider, Charlie Morton and Chris Sale locked into the highest 4 spots. Reynaldo López and Bryce Elder are battling for the fifth, with Huascar Ynoa, No. 2 prospect Hurston Waldrep and Smith-Shawver there for depth when the necessity arises, which it actually will. The Braves used 13 completely different starters in 2023 (excluding openers), and López and Sale each method Opening Day with workload considerations.
The Braves know they’ll want Smith-Shawver this yr.
“We’ll use him,” Snitker mentioned. “It’s good to have guys like that accessible to have the ability to do it.”
Requested how completely different a pitcher he’s this spring in comparison with a yr in the past, Smith-Shawver mentioned, “fairly completely different.”
“I undoubtedly really feel like I’ve made good strides,” he mentioned. “I undoubtedly really feel like I’m in rather a lot higher of a spot, and undoubtedly a extra full pitcher than I used to be leaving camp final yr.”
