Smith-Shawver, Grissom make Braves' NLDS roster

Top prospect AJ Smith-Shawver, Vaughn Grissom and Daysbel Hernández are on the Braves’ National League Division Series roster. Kyle Wright and Jesse Chavez are not.

When the Braves begin the NLDS against the Phillies on Saturday, their bench will include Grissom, who spent most of this year with Triple-A Gwinnett, and their bullpen will include Hernández, who made his first four career appearances at the end of July and then spent the regular season’s final two months on the injured list with right forearm inflammation.

Hernández, who has produced impressive strikeout rates in the Minors, made two strong appearances during intrasquad games played in Atlanta this week. Grissom also spent this past week reminding the Braves of his strong bat-to-ball skills. He’ll be a top right-handed pinch-hit option.

"[Hernandez] pretty much pitched his way on in the intersquad games," Braves manager Brian Snitker said. "We threw him back to back, and it was as good as it was when we called him up [in July] and really liked him. But it was just pretty much the stuff that he showed."

The right-hander Smith-Shawver is ranked as MLB Pipeline’s No. 53 prospect. The 20-year-old spent time on the Triple-A injured list and was used sparingly over the season’s final six weeks. But he showed a very live arm when he made a spot start against the Nationals on Sept. 29 and silenced most of the Braves’ regulars on Tuesday.

Wright missed four months while dealing with a right shoulder issue that the team said will require surgery, likely sidelining him for the 2024 season. Chavez missed three months after a Miguel Cabrera line drive fractured his left shin on June 14. Neither of these right-handed pitchers created the confidence they were ready to be put on the NLDS roster.

Pitchers (12): Bryce Elder, Max Fried, Brad Hand, Daysbel Hernández, Raisel Iglesias, Joe Jiménez, Pierce Johnson, A.J. Minter, AJ Smith-Shawver, Spencer Strider, Michael Tonkin, Kirby Yates

Catchers (2): Travis d’Arnaud, Sean Murphy

Infielders (6): Ozzie Albies, Orlando Arcia, Vaughn Grissom, Nicky Lopez, Matt Olson, Austin Riley

Outfielders (6): Ronald Acuña Jr., Michael Harris II, Marcell Ozuna, Kevin Pillar, Eddie Rosario, Forrest Wall