html = """ AJ Smith-Shawver Atlanta Braves | Our Atlanta Braves
Home News Top Prospects Prospect Map
Braves Prospect Profile RHP Former No. 1 Prospect

AJ Smith-Shawver Atlanta Braves

A premium Braves pitching prospect with upper-90s velocity, a swing-and-miss changeup, and the kind of arm talent that still makes him one of the most interesting young pitchers in the organization.

Position
RHP
Prospect Rank
#1
Throws
Right
ETA
MLB / 2026

Quick Snapshot

What to know

Calling card
Fastball / changeup combo
Best trait
Power stuff with strikeout upside
Development key
Sharpen slider consistency
Closest comps on site
JR Ritchie · Owen Murphy

Fastball

Power pitch

Flashes upper-90s velocity with life through the zone.

Changeup

Out pitch

Best secondary offering and the pitch that most cleanly separates him.

Slider

Needs polish

Has enough bite to get outs, but the consistency still determines his ceiling.

Pitch by pitch

Changeup

Shawver’s top out pitch, and the offering that best complements his fastball.

Fastball

Flashes upwards of 99 mph with good movement and sharp life through the zone.

Slider

Not one of his top two pitches, but it can still play as a useful weapon for outs.

Curveball

The pitch with the biggest downside right now and the least dependable option in the mix.

The future

Smith-Shawver has already touched the majors, so this is less about whether he can reach the big leagues and more about what kind of starter he can become once the entire arsenal settles in. The optimism comes from the pure stuff. The caution comes from how much refinement is still needed to get the most from it on a regular basis.

Explore the system

See every Braves prospect by position

Use the prospect map to visualize where each player fits in the organization.

Open the prospect map

Must-know info

He grew up in Colleyville, Texas, and attended Colleyville Heritage High School, where he excelled in both baseball and football.
AJ was born on November 20, 2002. Update the exact displayed age whenever you refresh the page.
The original page noted he had already been called up in 2023. This section works best as an editable ETA field going forward.

Similar prospects