Braves rookie AJ Smith-Shawver tore UCL in injury Spencer Strider appeared to catch
MLB.com's Mark Bowman reported the diagnosis hours after the Braves placed the Rookie of the Year candidate on the 60-day IL. It has reportedly not been determined if he will undergo Tommy John surgery or the newer internal brace procedure, which requires less rehab time, but both surgeries will knock him out until at least the start of the 2026 season.
Advertisement
The injury occurred during Smith-Shawver's start on Thursday against the Philadelphia Phillies. He encountered his first misfortune when a 96.6 mph line drive from Bryson Stott hit him in the ankle, but he remained in the game.
During his next few pitches to Trea Turner, Smith-Shawver started to wince and shake his arm. The Braves coaching staff only appeared to notice the issue after another pitcher, Spencer Strider, saw what was happening and pointed it out to them. Strider has his own experience with elbow issues, having missed most of 2024 with a torn UCL.
Turner flied out on the fourth pitch of the at-bat, and it was only after that when Smith-Shawver reportedly told Snitker he felt a "pop" in his elbow.
Smith-Shawver's velocity was dropping significantly while all that was happening. His last pitch to Stott was a 95.8 mph four-seamer, a tick below every other four-seamer he had thrown that day. The velocity kept dropping against Turner, with his four-seamer going from 95.9 mph to 94.7 mph to 94.2 mph on the final pitch.
AJ Smith-Shawver's Rookie of the Year campaign is officially over. (Photo by Abdoul Sow/MLB Photos via Getty Images)
(Abdoul Sow via Getty Images)
Whether Braves coaches should have been more proactive — or aware — of Smith-Shawver's troubles, the 22-year-old is a notable loss for a team trying to recover from a slow start.
Smith-Shawver was ranked as the No. 83 overall prospect by Baseball America entering this season and was off to a strong enough start that he was third in BetMGM's NL Rookie of the Year odds as of Thursday. Now, the Braves will have to wait until next year, at least, to see him on the mound again.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
New York Post
25 minutes ago
- New York Post
Victor Wembanyama takes bizarre social media shot at Karl Malone
Victor Wembanyama doesn't seem pleased with the NBA's Karl Malone praise. The Spurs' superstar indirectly threw shade at Malone on social media after a league account wished the Hall of Famer a happy 62nd birthday Thursday. 'Join us in wishing a Happy 62nd Birthday to 14x #NBAAllStar, 2x NBA MVP, and 75th Anniversary Team member… 'The Mailman,' Karl Malone! #NBABDAY,' @NBAHistory wrote on X. Karl Malone looks on during the NBA All-Star Game as part of the 2023 NBA All-Star Weekend. NBAE via Getty Images Wembanyama seemingly weighed in by re-sharing a post from DJ J. Strand — X user @DJ_Ajaxx — who posted a video of a man saying, 'What? Oh, see that's what we not about to do. Police, lock his ass up because he need to be under the jail' in response to the league's birthday message. The post from Strand seems to refer to when Malone impregnated a 13-year-old girl when he was 20 years old and attending Louisiana Tech. For years, the former Jazz star denied his paternity status despite blood tests that confirmed 99.3 percent probability that he was the father, according to a 1998 Associated Press story. Malone eventually formed a relationship with his now-41-year-old son, Demetress Bell, who played four seasons in the NFL. Victor Wembanyama #1 of the San Antonio Spurs and Chuck's Global Stars looks on during 2025 NBA All-Star Practice & Media Availability at Oakland Arena on February 15, 2025 in Oakland, California. Getty Images It's not clear if Wembanyama's re-share meant he was wading into that conversation, however. The NBA faced backlash during the 2023 All-Star weekend in Salt Lake City — where Malone played 18 seasons, winning two MVP awards — for welcoming him as part of the festivities. At that time, Malone didn't want any part of discussing his personal history. 'I'm not discussing any of that backlash,' Malone said, according to the Salt Lake Tribune. 'I don't care. That's my life, that's my personal life, and I'll deal with that like I've had to deal with everything. 'So, whatever.'
Newsweek
26 minutes ago
- Newsweek
Rory McIlroy Shows Faith in Luke Donald Amid Ian Poulter's Ryder Cup Warning
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Rory McIlroy was recently spotted soaking up the sun at a beach club in Saint-Tropez, where the Masters champion gave the perfect reply to a fan asking about his green jacket. "It's on the yacht," McIlroy replied as captured in a viral video posted by NUCLR Golf on X. But while his vacation video went viral on social media, McIlroy's recent interview with David Novak reflected that he certainly hasn't drifted from the next big battle at Bethpage Black. TROON, SCOTLAND - JULY 16: Luke Donald of England and Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland walk on the eighth hole during a practice round prior to The 152nd Open championship at Royal Troon on July... TROON, SCOTLAND - JULY 16: Luke Donald of England and Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland walk on the eighth hole during a practice round prior to The 152nd Open championship at Royal Troon on July 16, 2024 in Troon, Scotland. (Photo by) More Getty Images The Northern Irishman became the first automatic qualifier for Team Europe, marking his eighth consecutive Ryder Cup. "I've played in seven of them. I really hope I play in seven more. I don't know if seven is achievable, but it's the best experience you can have as a professional golfer. It's amazing," McIlroy shared on the 'How Leaders Lead with David Novak' podcast. He spoke about the intensity of representing Europe and how being "sort of talisman for the European Team and trying to lead by example and trying to set the tone and ... bring the rookies along" makes him absolutely "love that stuff." But that was not all. The five-time major winner also showcased his faith in the European team captain, Luke Donald, giving a strong reply to doubters. Rory McIlroy shows confidence in Luke Donald Just a few days ago, Ian Poulter publicly warned Team Europe to brace for the sheer volume and intensity awaiting them at Bethpage. "Luke (Donald) has got a venue in Bethpage Black that is going to be very loud, very raucous. We've had numerous events at that location in the past, so they certainly know what they are going to be in for," Poulter told Sky Sports. But McIlroy's string of praise for Donald and his team showcased the solid status of Europe. ROME, ITALY - OCTOBER 01: Rory McIlroy of Team Europe celebrates winning his match 3&1 with Luke Donald, Captain of Team Europe on the 17th green during the Sunday singles matches of the 2023 Ryder... ROME, ITALY - OCTOBER 01: Rory McIlroy of Team Europe celebrates winning his match 3&1 with Luke Donald, Captain of Team Europe on the 17th green during the Sunday singles matches of the 2023 Ryder Cup at Marco Simone Golf Club on October 01, 2023 in Rome, Italy. (Photo by) More Getty Images "The one thing about Luke was his demeanor, his tone, his whole attitude throughout the week (Ryder Cup 2024) never changed," McIlroy told Novak during the interview posted on YouTube. "That's the sort of, you know, steady ... rock-like leadership that ... if you're a team and you're looking at your captain and he looks like that all the time, that just gives you so much confidence," he continued to tell Novak as quoted. "Whether he (Donald) thinks he knows what he's doing, but he looked like he knew what he was doing, right?" McIlroy added how the European captain "just had this air of complete confidence and comfort and every time a player looked (at Donald), they just got the sense that, you know, no matter what happens, this guy's got everything under control. And that is, you know, to have a leader like that is amazing." Donald's calm presence in Rome left a lasting impression last year, and that kind of leadership might be exactly what Europe needs in New York as team Keegan Bradley gears up to bring back the trophy home. More Golf: Jon Rahm, Lee Westwood Slam OWGR System Ahead of Ryder Cup Selection
Forbes
26 minutes ago
- Forbes
Can Dopamine Fasts Improve Your Focus, Sleep And Sex Drive?
Photo by Mike Kemp/In Pictures via Getty Images If motivation feels harder to access, sex drive has dipped, or attention span is fleeting, dopamine could be the missing piece. Dopamine, often dubbed the "motivation molecule," is paramount to how we experience pleasure, learn new behaviors and pursue goals. But in our hyper-digitized world, we may be numbing the very system we rely on to feel engaged, alive and alert. From endless algorithmic feeds to reward-chasing behaviors like texting, swiping and doomscrolling, we are unknowingly participating in what some researchers now call "neural hijacking." A 2025 study in Current Biology suggests that the average adult receives more than 300 digital dopamine hits per day, microbursts of pleasure and novelty that, over time, dull the brain's sensitivity to natural rewards, such as movement, connection, rest and intimacy. The result? A modern epidemic of anhedonia, burnout, sexual apathy and disrupted circadian rhythms, among others. The term "dopamine fasting" may sound like a trend, but its roots lie in fundamental neurobiology. The mesolimbic dopamine pathway, particularly the nucleus accumbens and prefrontal cortex, plays a crucial role in reward anticipation, habit formation and emotional resilience. When overstimulated, this circuit becomes desensitized, leading to what Stanford psychiatry professor Dr. Anna Lembke refers to as the "dopamine deficit state." "Every time we flood the reward pathway, our brain adapts by downregulating dopamine receptors," Dr. Lembke writes in her 2021 book Dopamine Nation. "Eventually, we need more stimulation just to feel normal, and the absence of stimulation begins to feel like pain." Recent research from the University of Zurich (2024) demonstrated that a five-day reduction in high-dopamine behaviors restored baseline reward sensitivity in participants, who reported: This aligns with findings from the Journal of Psychosomatic Research, which observed that even brief digital abstinence can improve parasympathetic tone, reduce perceived stress and help re-regulate hormonal rhythms, such as cortisol and melatonin. Contrary to popular belief, a dopamine fast is not about eliminating dopamine itself, a neurotransmitter essential for survival, but instead reducing unnatural overstimulation that hijacks the brain's reward loop. Dr. Cameron Sepah, the clinical psychologist who popularized the concept in Silicon Valley, defines dopamine fasting as a "behavioral intervention that restricts impulsive reward-seeking behaviors to allow neurochemical rebalancing." That includes: Instead, the reset invites people to reconnect with low-dopamine, high-meaning experiences, such as creativity, genuine human connection, nature, stillness and analog pleasures. The result? A more finely tuned nervous system, better boundaries and a return to self-led desire. When digital stimulation is reduced, profound shifts often occur across mind-body systems. That's because dopamine doesn't operate in isolation. It modulates other neurohormones that influence everything from libido to cognition. Here's how: This science-informed protocol draws from clinical insights, behavior change models and circadian biology. It's designed not as deprivation but as repatterning, allowing your brain to remember how to enjoy life offline. Day 1: Reclaim Your Mornings Day 2: Set Up Boundaries, Not Bans Day 3: Create A Pleasure Rewire Day 4: Strengthen Connection Circuits Day 5: Reflect, Recalibrate, Recommit In a world hyper-focused on high performance and instant gratification, digital dopamine resets might offer a radical act of restoration. They can remind us that pleasure doesn't have to be fast, loud or filtered to be fulfilling. However, what we're really detoxing from isn't dopamine; it's disconnection from ourselves and our inner mental and emotional ecosystems. Whether you're a founder, a creative, a parent, or a burnout survivor, learning to manage your reward system is one of the most profound and revolutionary skills of the modern age. Remember, unplugging for a few days won't change the world. But it might just change how you show up in it: awake, aware and fully alive.
