MILWAUKEE — AJ Smith-Shawver underwent Tommy John surgery and Craig Kimbrel elected free agency Monday in the latest pitching moves for the slumping Atlanta Braves.
Smith-Shawver had reconstructive surgery on the ulnar collateral ligament in his right elbow, knocking the rookie right-hander out for the rest of this season and likely the start of next season. Dr. Keith Meister performed the procedure in Arlington, Texas.
''It was a complete Tommy John, and now he starts the long road of the rehab,'' manager Brian Snitker said before the Braves' 7-1 victory over the Milwaukee Brewers that snapped a seven-game skid. ''Everything went well."
Kimbrel opted for free agency two days after the Braves designated the nine-time All-Star reliever for assignment. The club had attempted to send Kimbrel outright to its Triple-A Gwinnett affiliate.
Braves officials already had announced May 30 that Smith-Shawver had a torn UCL. He left a 5-4 loss to the Philadelphia Phillies a day earlier and said he felt a ''pop.''
Smith-Shawver, 22, went 3-2 with a 3.86 ERA in nine starts this season. He struck out 42 batters in 44 1/3 innings.
''He's got a nice career ahead of him,'' Snitker said. ''This is just a little setback. Still a very young player. He'll have a really good career.''
Kimbrel had been attempting to make a comeback with Atlanta, where he spent his first five major league seasons and earned four straight All-Star selections from 2011-14. His 186 saves with the Braves are the most in franchise history.
