Braves reliever A.J. Minter has been sidelined for the remainder of the season after undergoing hip surgery on Wednesday, the team announced. Although manager Brian Snitker mentioned last week that Minter would need surgery, it was unclear if it would end his season. The situation became more evident when Atlanta moved Minter to the 60-day injured list following the signing of Gio Urshela. Wednesday’s announcement confirmed that Minter will not return for the playoffs.
Minter’s season concludes with a 2.62 ERA over 34 1/3 innings, where he struck out 26.1% of batters while maintaining an 8.2% walk rate. Although solid, these numbers are slightly below his performance from the previous two seasons, during which he fanned over 30% of his opponents and pitched more than 60 innings each year.
Minter had been dealing with hip discomfort for several months, first landing on the injured list in late May due to inflammation. After a brief return, the injury ultimately required season-ending surgery. This surgery could potentially mark the end of Minter’s time with Atlanta, as he is set to become a free agent in the upcoming offseason. While he still has a chance for a multi-year deal, his recent injury might affect his market value.
In Minter’s absence, Dylan Lee has taken his place in the bullpen, joined by Grant Holmes, who was recently moved back to relief pitching. Manager Snitker announced before Tuesday’s game that Holmes would return to the bullpen after Reynaldo López was reinstated from the injured list. Holmes had made four starts since late July, recording a 4.57 ERA with an impressive 28% strikeout rate over 21 2/3 innings.
However, with Chris Sale, Max Fried, López, Spencer Schwellenbach, and Charlie Morton holding secure spots in the rotation, there isn’t room for Holmes to continue as a starter unless the Braves opt for a six-man rotation. Holmes, who has no minor league options remaining, would likely be claimed off waivers if sent down, so the Braves will keep him as a multi-inning reliever. Holmes has performed well, currently holding a 3.45 ERA over 47 innings this season.
This situation leaves the Braves with limited flexibility for roster adjustments. Of their eight MLB relievers, only Lee has options left, and Schwellenbach is the only starter who can be sent down without being exposed to waivers, though his strong performance makes that unlikely. The 13-pitcher limit could eventually force the Braves to decide whether to continue carrying both Luke Jackson and Jesse Chavez in middle relief.
Injuries have been a persistent issue for the Braves this season, compounded by Austin Riley’s recent hand fracture, which will keep him out for over a month. Urshela is expected to fill in at third base temporarily, but the Braves are also exploring other options. As reported by Francys Romero, Atlanta is giving Yuli Gurriel playing time at third base in Triple-A Gwinnett. Gurriel, who signed a minor league deal with the Braves in April, has had a strong season at Gwinnett, batting .297/.378/.493 with 12 home runs. However, he hasn’t played third base in the majors since 2019, spending most of his recent time at first base.
