Former Saginaw ace Spencer Schwellenbach earns spot in MLB Futures game

Given his success, Spencer Schwellenbach can’t wait to move up and closer to a major-league opportunity.

Given his past, however, Schwellenbach has learned patience sometimes is necessary.

After missing his first season of professional baseball because of Tommy John surgery, Schwellenbach has lived up his billing as the No. 6 prospect in the Atlanta Braves system, pitching for the Augusta GreenJackets.

The second-round pick will get an opportunity Saturday to show the nation his progress as one of the prospects selected to pitch in the Futures Game as part of Major League Baseball’s All-Star Game weekend in Seattle.

“It’s pretty cool,” Schwellenbach said. “But I haven’t really gotten nervous or anything. Once it gets closer, I’ll feel a little something.”

The Braves took Schwellenbach in the second round of the 2021 MLB Draft, 59th overall. But the former Nebraska shortstop-pitcher never took the mound in 2021 or 2022.

“I had surgery in August of 2021 … I kind of knew there was something going on,” Schwellenbach said. “They Braves knew it too, but we didn’t know how bad it was until we got the MRI. My UCL was basically blown out. I could still throw. I could still throw hard. It just hurt really bad.”

Most of his throwing in Nebraska was from the hole at shortstop. After starring as a pitcher and hitter at Heritage and earning Michigan High School Baseball Player of the Year honors in 2018, Schwellenbach went to Nebraska to play shortstop.

He started all three seasons at shortstop, but he added closer responsibilities as a junior and was named the Big Ten Player of the Year. He hit .284 with a .403 on-base percentage with 12 doubles and six homers in 48 games.

But it was his work on the mound that intrigued the Braves. In 18 games, Schwellenbach struck out 34 and walked eight, earning 10 saves with a 0.57 earned run average in 31 2/3 innings.

He also touched 99 mph with his fastball.

“Part of me thought it was just some soreness you have to get through,” Schwellenbach said. “Atlanta assumed I would have to get some work done, based on the reports. Obviously, it was disappointing.”

So he waited, spending the 2022 season rehabbing his arm.

“The first couple of months were the worst,” Schwellenbach said. “I couldn’t do anything. I had a brace on the arm, with rehab every day for two to three hours. I played a lot of video games.

“It got easier. The key was trying to focus on the present rather than what’s going to happen in three months or in a year. I learned a lot about preparation, arm care and a lot of stuff to keep myself healthy.”

So far, it’s worked. Schwellenbach, 23, is 4-2 with a 2.63 ERA in 13 games. He has 41 strikeouts and 15 walks in 51 1/3 innings, holding batters to a .243 average. More important, Schwellenbach has hit 98 mph on his fastball.

“Going to spring training was really cool,” Schwellenbach said. “I hadn’t pitched in a game for 18 to 20 months, so it was a little nerve-racking. I was only throwing 20 to 30 pitches, trying to ramp things up.

“They want me to be a starter. That’s what I want to do to. I’ve been getting up to 80 pitches the last couple of weeks. I’m definitely back to normal. I couldn’t throw more than 30 pitches a couple years ago.”

Still, Schwellenbach would like to hit again at some point. And he would like to move past the Low A level.

“But I don’t worry about it too much,” Schwellenbach said. “I knew that I was going to be out the whole year. They’re not going to push me any faster or slower depending on how I feel. When I was getting drafted, I didn’t care who picked me. Now that I’m with the Braves and developing here, I feel really fortunate to be in this situation.

“I’m fiddling around with some different grips here and there, working with some new pitches I can manage. For now, I’ve got the fastball, curveball, slider and changeup, but I’m working on more pitches. They haven’t let me hit though, and it’s something I’d still like to do.”

The Futures Game is 7 p.m. Saturday, streaming on Peacock TV. The National League manager Raul Ibanez, with some of the top prospects in baseball filling the rosters.

Six of the Top 10 prospects on the MLB Pipeline list will play, including No. 1 prospect Baltimore shortstop Jackson Holliday. Prospects also include Milwaukee outfielder Jackson Chourio (No. 3), Boston shortstop Marcelo Mayer (5), Washington outfielder Jason Wood (6), Arizona shortstop Jordan Lawlar (7) and Chicago Cubs outfielder Pete Crow-Armstrong (10).

Two Detroit Tigers prospects were also selected. Infielder Colt Keith is the Tigers’ No. 1 prospect and No. 43 overall, with Justyn-Henry Malloy ranked as the No. 7 Tigers’ prospect. Malloy was Atlanta’s sixth-round pick in 2021 but was sent to Detroit as part of the Joe Jimenez trade.

“He was a buddy with the Braves last year, so he’ll be there,” Schwellenbach said. “J.P. Massey (Pittsburgh Pirates) will be there. He’s a pitcher I played against in college, and we were drafted in the same year. That will be fun.