Braves right-hander underwent arthroscopic surgery on his right shoulder today. The club had previously said they wouldnt know his timeline until the procedure was complete. reports today that manager Brian Snitker described it as a clean up procedure. The righty will be shut down from throwing for 12 weeks, which will take him into July, before being reexamined. Even if he is declared healthy at that point, he would need several weeks to ramp back up, meaning a return in August or September is perhaps the best-case scenario. The news is obviously le s than ideal, as Lpez was a key member of last years rotation and was slated to be in that role again this year. Atlanta signed him going into 2024 and moved him to the rotation, even though he had been pitching in relief for a while. The gambit paid off, with Lpez posting a 1.99 earned run average over 135 2/3 innings. Making the move from the bullpen to the rotation still presented some challenges. He had a couple of stints on the injured list last year, one due to forearm inflammation and another due to shoulder inflammation. However, he was off the IL by the end of the season and seemed fine during this years Spring Training. But Ryne Nelson Jersey after just one start in the regular season, he landed on the IL again with more inflammation in that shoulder. Shortly thereafter, the club announced that the arthroscopic procedure would be required. As mentioned, they didnt expect to have a firm timeline until it was done, though they transferred him to the 60-day IL last week when they acquired . That suggested they didnt expect him back before late May, but it seems he will actually be out well beyond that. It appears theres still a window for Lpez to return late in the year though it appears to be a somewhat narrow one. His rehab could perhaps become an important development this summer, as the front office will have to decide how aggre sively to pursue pitching at the deadline. As they are deciding on their plan of attack, Lpez could be working his way back to the mound if he doesnt experience any setbacks. For now, the club is left with and as the core members of the rotation. and earned the final two spots out of camp. When Lpez hit the IL, was recalled to replace him. seems to be getting very close to a return from last years UCL surgery. He to sed 5 1/3 scorele s innings in his most recent rehab start. That will likely push one of Elder or Smith-Shawver into a Triple-A optional a signment. Holmes is out of options but could get bumped to a long relief role, with current long man then being optioned. , and are also on the 40-man. The team is presumably operating with a bit le s room for error than they were expecting. They entered the season as contenders but have gotten out to a dreary 1-8 start, the worst record in baseball. They will have to climb out of that hole without their big offseason addition, as received an 80-game PED suspension. Lpez will be on the shelf even longer than that. Photo courtesy of Denis Poroy, Imagn Images Pavin Smith Jersey