The Atlanta Braves haven’t even thrown the first pitch of the new season, yet the pressure on their pitching staff is already building. Injuries have a way of forcing teams into uncomfortable decisions before Opening Day arrives, and Atlanta appears determined not to repeat the chaos that defined last year’s pitching carousel.
Injuries Force Braves to Look for Early Pitching Depth
During 2025, the Braves burned through arms at a staggering rate, using a franchise-record 46 pitchers over the course of the season. That number tells a story of constant adjustments, emergency call-ups, and a bullpen stretched to its limits. With the new season approaching, the organization had hoped for a more stable outlook.
Instead, two promising young starters, Spencer Schwellenbach and Hurston Waldrep, are expected to begin the year on the injured list. For a team with postseason expectations, that kind of early uncertainty immediately creates urgency. Losing multiple rotation options before the season even begins forces front offices to think creatively, especially when it comes to reinforcing organizational depth.
Atlanta’s response has been swift, though not necessarily headline-grabbing.
Braves Quietly Add Right-Hander Jack Dashwood
According to the reports, the Braves quietly signed right-handed pitcher Jack Dashwood to a minor-league contract on February 20. The move initially flew under the radar, as the transaction did not appear on the public log until several days after the deal had already been finalized.
Dashwood, 28, brings an intriguing mix of size, power, and unfinished potential. Originally drafted by the Los Angeles Angels in the 12th round of the 2019 MLB Draft, he spent the past five seasons working his way through the Angels’ minor-league system.
His most recent campaign, however, was anything but smooth. Pitching at Triple-A, Dashwood struggled mightily, finishing the year with a 7.33 ERA across 48 appearances and 54 innings. Those numbers alone might not stand out as the profile of an immediate big-league contributor.
Still, organizations often look deeper than ERA, and Dashwood’s physical traits and raw strikeout ability make him an interesting project.
Raw Strikeout Ability Offers Potential Upside
Standing 6-foot-6 and weighing 240 pounds, Dashwood has the kind of build teams love in power pitchers. Over the course of 260 minor-league innings, he has struck out an impressive 297 batters, showing that his arsenal has the ability to overpower hitters when everything clicks.
The issue throughout much of his career has been command. Strikeouts have come in bunches, but so have mistakes and free passes. If Dashwood hopes to finally reach the major leagues, refining his control will be critical. The Braves’ pitching development staff has developed a strong reputation for identifying overlooked arms and helping them sharpen their mechanics, which may explain why the team decided to bring him into the fold.
Atlanta also continued its late-February depth additions by signing Dashwood’s former UC Santa Barbara teammate, left-hander Kyle Nelson. The pair of former Gauchos now join the organization as potential bullpen options who could provide valuable insurance during the long grind of the season.
Neither move guarantees immediate major-league impact. Both pitchers are likely to begin the year as depth options within the system. But for a Braves team that learned last year just how quickly pitching depth can evaporate, even minor additions could prove meaningful if injuries once again test the organization’s roster flexibility.
