Yesterday, the Braves had several notable developments among starting pitchers at all levels.
Spencer Schwellenbach maintained his impressive major-league performance in San Diego, leading the Braves to a much-needed victory over the Padres with seven innings of one-run ball.
On the farm for Low-A Augusta, top prospect JR Ritchie made a strong comeback to minor-league baseball after Tommy John surgery, pitching five no-hit innings and striking out seven. Ian Anderson continued to work on his strength as he prepares to return to the majors, throwing 4.2 innings and surrendering two runs on six hits.
Ian Anderson's night is over for Rome
4.2IP 6H 2ER 0BB 2K pic.twitter.com/UGnqTZDHY4— Gaurav (@gvedak) July 13, 2024
Ian Anderson has had a hard few years after his World Series run in 2021. He struggled in 2022 and fought with a spate of ailments, and his year ended with the announcement that he will have Tommy John surgery.
It was the cherry on top of a forgettable season, but at only 26 years old, it could be a blessing in disguise. Many arms returned from TJ stronger, particularly younger ones, and Anderson appeared to be in desperate need of a fresh start. The 18 months off should have given him time to regroup, and now there is no pressure on him to succeed.
The Braves’ rotation is one of the deepest in the league, thanks to the recent emergence of Spencer Schwellenbach. Atlanta also has Bryce Elder and AJ Smith-Shawver waiting in the wings. Whatever Ian Anderson can offer the Braves in the future should be considered frosting on the cake. There are no expectations, but this is a former #3 overall pick with one of the best playoff records in franchise history, with a 1.26 ERA in eight starts. If Anderson continues to gain strength, who knows what he can offer the Braves down the future.
