BS Report: Injuries Plague the Braves

The last two seasons for the Atlanta Braves have been defined by injuries. Two years ago, the Braves had a significant number of injuries, so much so that even though they made the playoffs and made it to the first round against San Diego, they barely had any starting pitchers to pitch. And then last year, the injuries were so significant, the Braves finished with a losing record for the first time in eight years, ten games under 500, and it was mainly because of the injuries.

And now, a week into spring training, it’s already defined by injuries. Last week it was Spencer Schroeder back who hurt himself a couple of weeks ago. Now he’s out. I don’t know how long for bone spurs. Probably will have surgery. And then on Sunday it was learned that hurts and Waldrop. Well, he’s got loose bodies in his elbow, which is not good.

And he’s got pain, which is not good. And he’ll see a doctor this week to determine the issue and whether or not he needs any kind of procedure. But it was learned on Sunday night that person Waldrop, when he threw that bullpen session on Thursday and then came in the next day hurting, hit 99 miles an hour. And to be honest with you, that’s a favorable offense for the pitching coaches who were around watching him hit 99 miles an hour in mid-February.

That is ridiculous. We wonder why all these pictures are getting hurt. And yet, the first bullpen session for Hurst and Waltrip, he reaches 99 miles an hour. Oh, and then the next day, he comes in in pain. I wonder if there’s any connection there. Sure there is. Can you imagine if 30 years ago, Leo Mazzone, Georgia Sports Hall of Fame pitching coach, had watched John Smoltz hit 99 miles an hour in his first live bullpen session?

Leo would have had a stroke right there in the in the bullpen. The pitchers are there to work their arms up for the start of the season. That’s why spring training is six weeks old. So they can build themselves up. But for a pitcher to hit 99, especially a pitcher who’s not normally throwing 99 miles an hour for him to hit 99 in that early part of spring training is ridiculous.

Awful. And now we start and the Braves have an issue. Alex in Tampa said the other day, well, we’ve got four starting pitchers that were ready to go with Chris Sale, Spencer Strider, Reynaldo Lopez and Grant Holmes. And all four of those guys have significant histories with injuries, recent injury histories. All four of them were hurt last year. And you’re going to count on those guys and even a candidate for your fifth starter’s job. Better than Martin Perez, who’s in camp on a non-roster invite. Well, he was hurt last year twice. Once with his shoulder in April, or he missed four months. And then with his elbow in late September. The Braves have a problem. Not only are they going to miss because of 2026, they got six more weeks of spring training.

But they’re also have a problem with injuries and they need to figure it out. But let me say this. Throwing hard may get people out in the big leagues, but to do it in mid-February is nuts.