Heading into the 2025 season, it was fair to wonder what exactly the Braves could expect from Spencer Schwellenbach. It is hard to have a more impressive rookie season when you consider the pressure Schwellenbach was under. An early injury to Spencer Strider and the regression from Bryce Elder put the young pitcher in the spotlight, and the results were far better than expected.
Still, there was reason to wonder if, with a year to adjust, lineups would have an answer for the young pitcher. This is a fair question and an adjustment that nearly every starter must go through at different points in their career. Not one Schwellenbach has yet had to make, with the starter somehow looking even more dominant than last season.
Spencer Schwellenbach's Dominance Should Have Him in Early Cy Young Discussions
Schwellenbach has allowed a single earned run in three starts making it through 20.0 innings. The final start was shortened by a rain delay that prevented another great outing. Each of the three starts has been incredibly impressive with it never feeling Schwellenbach isn't in complete control. One bad pitch to Kyle Schwarber is the lone blemish on an incredible start to the 2025 season.
It has been a much-needed boost, with Chris Sale, Bryce Elder, and AJ Smith-Shawver all struggling to start the year. While much can change in the months ahead, there isn't a single pitcher Atlanta fans trust more than Spencer Schwellenbach.
With the large sample size dating back to last season, fans can begin to believe they have found yet another building block for their rotation. It is a much-needed boost, not only because of the aforementioned struggles but also because of the arms the team lost in the offseason.
Three starts into the season is admittedly an extremely small sample size, however, Schwellenbach must be in early Cy Young conversations. On the heels of Sale's 2024 win, perhaps the Braves will have another serious contender. While the strikeout numbers are lacking, this level of dominance at least puts him in the conversation. It is an encouraging bright spot in what has been an incredibly bleak start to the 2025 season.