The Atlanta Braves face another rotation setback as right-hander Hurston Waldrep may need surgery to remove loose bodies from his arm. Manager Walt Weiss revealed the 23-year-old complained of discomfort after batting practice, with an MRI showing no ligament damage but additional tests pending.

Waldrep was competing for the No. 5 spot in Atlanta's rotation after impressing with a 6-1 record and 2.88 ERA in 10 major league appearances last season. The potential surgery comes just five days after the Braves placed Spencer Schwellenbach on the 60-day injured list due to elbow inflammation, compounding their pitching concerns.

General manager Alex Anthopoulos had already been seeking pitching help, particularly a starter for the postseason rotation. With Chris Sale, Spencer Strider, Reynaldo Lopez, Grant Holmes, Joey Wentz, Bryce Elder and Martín Pérez already in the mix, Waldrep's absence could force Atlanta to accelerate their search for rotation depth as spring training progresses.