When supporters reflect on the Atlanta Braves’ losses this offseason, the focus is obviously on the players who left in free agency. Charlie Morton, particularly former ace Max Fried, were key members of the Braves rotation who will wear different clothes in 2025. On the bullpen side, AJ Minter’s signing with the Mets is a significant loss. However, few have given Joe Jimenez’s injury the attention it deserves.
Atlanta still has Raisel Iglesias in the closing situations, but losing their key setup man in Jimenez is a major blow that the organization was unable to rectify during the winter. While the squad was aware that Jimenez was in need of knee surgery, nobody expected the announcement that he would miss the entire 2025 season.
Fast forward to spring training this year, and Jimenez’s situation appears to be improving marginally. While Jimenez is unlikely to return in the first half, it appears that a second-half return is possible.
Joe Jimenez’s recovery from knee surgery is going well, could return in 2025
The rationale for Jimenez’s position is actually quite simple. He underwent surgery to treat cartilage damage in his left knee immediately following the season, with a recovery time of eight to twelve months. If he needs 12 months to recover, he will miss the entire 2025 season. If he continues on pace and returns to the mound within the next eight to nine months, he could be throwing out of the Braves’ bullpen for the most of the second half of the season.
Right now, it is too early to predict when Jimenez will be ready, but his toughness in pitching through the injury suggests that he may return sooner rather than later. When questioned about his recuperation during spring training, Jimenez replied, “Obviously, it’s a long process, but I come here every day to work and do everything I can to make it right now. Obviously, I hope to throw this year. We do not know yet. As of now, I’m focusing on my recovery every day and seeing how things go.”
Assuming Jimenez does not suffer any setbacks, which is not guaranteed given how the Braves performed in 2024, not adding an impact bullpen this winter could work out well. If things don’t go as planned, Atlanta will be quite aggressive at the trade deadline, aiming to shore up their bullpen.
