The North Port Report: Schwellenbach Preps for Surgery, Holmes Avoids It
Here's everything you need to know from Braves Spring Training in North Port, FL for Wednesday
Welcome to The North Port Report, your nightly notebook from Braves spring training. Each evening, we’ll run through the biggest developments from camp: roster battles, injury updates, standout performances, and the small details that matter more than they seem in February. The games may not count yet, but the information does.
Schwellenbach’s heading for surgery
Just one day after manager Walt Weiss said that Spencer Schwellenbach likely would not need surgery, the youngster had a more somber tone in the clubhouse to reporters.
“It definitely sucks. It’s been over seven months since my injury, and I’ve given it a lot of time to heal and thought we were in the clear. Built up, just two weeks from spring training (is when) things started getting wrong with it. Definitely sucks”
Schwellenbach elaborated that he was throwing a 20-pitch bullpen on January 30th, the fourth or fifth of the offseason, and he was “letting it go” when he started to not feel right on the last three pitches. After imaging and consultations with doctors, the bone spur issue was identified.
The current belief is that his UCL is structurally intact based on the imaging, but the arthroscopic surgery will soon confirm the health of the ligament. While the surgery is not yet scheduled, it’s likely that Schwellenbach will make it out to Dallas to see Dr. Keith Meister as soon as the inflammation subsides enough to allow for a procedure.
Quick Hits
Grant Holmes believes that his UCL tear was a pre-existing injury and the actual issue for him last year was a flexor strain. “That was the first image I’ve ever had on my elbow,” Holmes told the media on Tuesday. “So, nobody knows if that [UCL] tear was there beforehand and was really just a flexor [strain]. Honestly, I think that’s what it was, because if I had a tear in the flexor tendon and the UCL, that would have been a whole lot different. I wouldn’t have recovered as fast.” Both Holmes and Reynaldo López, who had arthroscopic surgery on his shoulder, are reportedly fully cleared with no restrictions this spring or this season.
This isn’t without precedent - RA Dickey pitched without a UCL for his entire career, being diagnosed due to how he was holding his arm on a magazine cover - but it’s not incredibly common.
Nacho Alvarez Jr. is NOT converting to catcher, just adding versatility to his game as he looks to win the last bench spot in camp. He characterized it as “an extra tool in the toolbox” to the AJC’s Chad Bishop, explaining that he was approached about a potential conversion prior to last year’s stint in the Arizona Fall League. It’s a suggestion that he’s received going back to his high school coach, and with his “good hands”, per Drake Baldwin, he has a chance to get Atlanta through a game if called upon as an emergency catcher.
Ronnie Bombs are back on the menu. Ronald Acuña Jr. took his first batting practice of 2026 on Wednesday, launching some absolute moonshots. After his last swing landed just shy of the CoolToday Park scoreboard, he left the cage, telling WSB-TV’s Alison Mastrangelo, “I’m healthy now” with a smile.
Dylan Lee won his arbitration case against the Braves, securing a $2.2M salary for 2026. The Braves had offered $2M, but an arbitrator sided with Lee. Players are now 8-3 in arbitration so far this offseason.
Robert Suarez reported to camp today. The righthander from Venezuela was delayed and missed Tuesday’s workout due to a visa issue, but that’s resolved and he’s in North Port.
Roster Battle Tracker
Stock UP
Nacho Alvarez - While I still think the best course of action is for him to return to Gwinnett for more offensive seasoning, having the ability to be an emergency catcher puts him in the same capability boat as infielders Kyle Farmer and Luke Williams. There is a growing school of thought that optioning down prospects who have seen some success at the major league level is actually detrimental to their development, unless it’s to fix mechanical issues, as the difference in MLB and minor league pitching has never been greater. If the Braves are of this same opinion, Nacho might have a legitimate chance for the final bench spot this spring.
Jonah Heim - Atlanta’s Monday signee is on an MLB deal, making $1.25M this season. He’s previously hit lefties well, holding a career .258 average and 105 wRC+ against LHP.
Stock DOWN
Chadwick Tromp and Sandy León - In my first Opening Day roster projection on Monday, I gave León the backup catching position by default. Heim’s addition on an MLB deal with a >$1M salary means he’s the new favorite unless he plays his way off the roster.
Observation of the Day
A lot of Atlanta’s position players are already in camp. Per the AJC’s Gabe Burns, second baseman Ozzie Albies was the first to hit the practice field on Monday, with Matt Olson, Austin Riley, Ronald Acuña Jr., and Michael Harris all making it in for day two of workouts. Per other reports, outfielder Mike Yastrzemski, shortstop Mauricio Dubón, as well as utility candidates Brett Wisely and Luke Williams are also present ahead of Sunday’s first full-squad workout.
Tomorrow’s watch list
Here’s what I am watching for from spring training on Tuesday:
Jurickson Profar’s first workout. As he’s playing in the WBC, he’s likely to be an early arrival to spring training, but I don’t think he’s in North Port quite yet.
Reports on some of the NRI relievers, specifically James Karinchak and Ian Hamilton. IF the Braves don’t add another starting pitcher, Grant Holmes might be in the rotation and there’s an open spot for one of these two to take in the bullpen.