AJ Smith-Shawver’s rehab assignment moves up to Triple-A

WASHINGTON, DC - MAY 22: AJ Smith-Shawver #32 of the Atlanta Braves pitches in the first inning during a baseball game against the Washington Nationals at Nationals Park on May 22, 2025 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images) | Getty Images It appears that the Atlanta Braves are g

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What is the story about?

It appears that the Atlanta Braves are getting closer to having one of their pitchers back in the fold. Following a couple of rehab starts with the Augusta GreenJackets, AJ Smith-Shawver will now be facing an upgrade in competition as he’s been moved from Single-A to Triple-A. He’ll be joining the Gwinnett Stripers this weekend.

The press release from the Stripers has more information:

The 23-year-old Smith-Shawver began his rehab assignment with Class-A Augusta on June 30 and made two starts, going

0-0 with a 1.29 ERA, 0.71 WHIP, and .208 BAA.

Smith-Shawver has made 16 career Major League appearances (15 starts), all with the Braves from 2023-25. He is 4-2 with a 3.77 ERA, 1.30 WHIP, and .223 BAA.

Smith-Shawver’s rehab assignment marks his return to Gwinnett. The Fort Worth, Texas native has spent his entire Triple-A career with the Stripers, going 5-10 with a 4.65 ERA, 1.27 WHIP, and .207 BAA in 32 starts from 2023-25.

Smith-Shawver will be the seventh Atlanta Braves player to rehab with Gwinnett this year, joining catcher Sean Murphy (April 21-May 2), right-hander Spencer Strider (April 21-26), shortstop Ha-Seong Kim (May 5-10), left-hander Dylan Dodd (May 5-18), catcher Drake Baldwin (June 13-14), and left-hander Danny Young (June 30-July 2).

It has truly been the Gwinnett Express so far this season, what with the regular amount of player movement to-and-from Triple-A and the fact that Smith-Shawver is now Braves Player No. 7 to make a rehab stint in Gwinnett. Either way, it’s good news that AJSS is getting closer to returning and it bodes well for what the pitching staff may look like after the All-Star break. Atlanta’s pitching performance on Wednesday night was excellent but it’s certainly been shaky at times in the approach to the break so having a guy like Smith-Shawver return should only help things as far as Atlanta is concerned.

AJ Smith-Shawver’s latest start will take place this Saturday at home against the Memphis Redbirds, so if you’re going to take a trip to the Northern suburbs to see Atlanta’s Triple-A affiliate in action, that’ll be the best day to do it.