The Atlanta Braves transferred right-hander Robert Suárez to the 60-day injured list Tuesday as rosters expanded, a move that looks ominous at first glance but does not close the door on a 2026 return.
The club selected right-hander Blake Burkhalter and infielder Kyle Farmer to the active roster in corresponding transactions, creating the need for a 40-man opening.
Suárez, already sidelined since late June, provided that opening without changing his medical timeline.
Suárez has been out since June 23 with right elbow inflammation after last pitching June 19 against Milwaukee. An early MRI showed no ligament damage or structural issues, only inflammation that required rest. Recovery has not been linear.
He began a throwing program around the All-Star break, then paused after feeling discomfort on a relatively short throw. He has since resumed and is now scheduled for two bullpen sessions this week, beginning Tuesday at Truist Park.
Live batting practice would follow if those sessions go well, then a brief rehab stint with Triple-A Gwinnett.
Because he is a reliever, Suárez does not need the lengthy pitch-count buildup a starter requires. A few outings in the minors to sharpen command and confirm his stuff is back would likely be enough. Manager Walt Weiss said Monday that a late-season return remains possible.
The key, as always with arm issues this late, is avoiding another setback. If that happens, the season is probably over. If it does not, Atlanta could still add one of its most effective late-inning arms for the stretch run and any postseason series.
A common misconception is that a transfer to the 60-day list restarts a 60-day clock. It does not. The rule requires a player to miss a total of 60 days, not an additional 60 after the transfer. Suárez has already exceeded that threshold.
The Braves simply waited until they needed the 40-man roster spot rather than moving him earlier, when they still hoped the original 15-day stint would suffice. They also preferred not to designate another player for assignment once September call-ups arrived.
Before the injury, Suárez was one of baseball’s most reliable setup men. Signed to a three-year, $45 million deal last winter after two All-Star seasons in San Diego, he posted a 0.56 ERA, 0.84 WHIP, four saves and 12 holds across 32 innings.
Losing that production for two months has been costly. Getting even a portion of it back in September would be a meaningful boost for a club still fighting in the National League East.
The transfer is administrative, not diagnostic. Suárez’s next few bullpens will tell a clearer story than any roster designation.
For now, the Braves are treating him as a pitcher who can still help them this year.
