Atlanta Braves starting pitcher Reynaldo Lopez underwent arthroscopic shoulder surgery on Tuesday and will be shut down from throwing for at least 12 weeks. The Braves placed Lopez on the injured list on March 31st, and he won’t be able to start throwing until July at the earliest.
Reynaldo Lopez Out Until July the Earliest After Shoulder Surgery
Lopez, who signed a restricted three-year, $30 million deal with the Braves in November, will miss at least half of the season after suffering a shoulder injury in his first start of the season. He spent time on the injured list last August and September with right shoulder inflammation.
Lopez was one of the most important pieces to the Braves’ starting rotation coming into the season after a successful transition from the bullpen in 2024. In his first season in Atlanta, he posted an 8-5 record with a 1.99 ERA, earning his first All-Star selection.
The surgery that Lopez underwent will shut him down from throwing until at least July. If he is healthy at that time, Lopez is looking at a return in August or September.
“They want to go in there and make sure nothing is going on,” said Braves manager Brian Snitker. “We’ll know more after he gets that done and they get a treatment plan.” The imaging the team has received so far has only shown inflammation in his shoulder, but the surgery will show if there is any structural damage to his elbow.
With Lopez out until July at the earliest, the Braves will count on Bryce Elder to fill his spot in the rotation. Even without Lopez, the Braves rotation still stacks up among the league’s best. Spencer Schwellenbach looks like one of the top pitchers in the National League, and Chris Sale should seemingly build on his Cy Young season from last year. The team also expects Spencer Strider to return to the rotation in April.
Main Photo Credits: Denis Poroy-Imagn Images
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