ATLANTA -- When Spencer Schwellenbach learned he was jumping from Double-A to the Majors to join the Braves this week, he said he felt ¡°totally taken off guard and very happy about it.¡± He wasn¡¯t the only one surprised at the news, forced to reroute his travel plans, and thrilled to do it.

To witness his debut in person, Schwellenbach¡¯s family also embarked on quite the last-minute journey. The Schwellenbachs are from Saginaw, Mich., about 800 miles and a 12-13 hour drive from Atlanta. So getting to Truist Park in a couple of days already would¡¯ve been a haul.

But they weren¡¯t in Michigan this weekend. They were in Missouri, where they¡¯d congregated for Schwellenbach¡¯s brother¡¯s wedding, and were already on their way back north, when the phone rang. It was Spencer on the other end.

¡°Hey, can you be in Atlanta on Wednesday?¡±

One big, immediate U-turn and a few days later, a group of 25 friends and family were on hand to attend Schwellenbach¡¯s big league debut, which with little run support and one bad pitch turned into a 7-2 loss to the Nationals. Flashing a five-pitch arsenal and a fastball that averaged 96 mph, the Braves¡¯ No. 3 prospect really made only one mistake over the course of five solid innings, a three-run Lane Thomas homer in the fifth.

Otherwise, Schwellenbach looked far from green despite being the first Braves starter in 13 years to jump from Double-A to the Majors, since Randall Delgado in 2011.

¡°He handled himself really well,¡± manager Brian Snitker said. ¡°The composure, slowing the game down. I thought he was very impressive.¡±

Summoned after only two starts at Double-A to replace the injured AJ Smith-Shawver in the rotation, Schwellenbach is only 13 months removed from his pro debut and arrived Wednesday with only 24 Minor League starts under his belt -- two above Class A.

How unusual is that rapid of an ascent? Think of the most big league ready pitching prospect in recent memory -- probably Paul Skenes. Skenes zoomed to the big leagues after 12 abbreviated Minor League starts. Schwellenbach made 24. The difference is only three months.

¡°It was a quick ride,¡± said his mother, Robin Schwellenbach, describing her son¡¯s career arc, not the family¡¯s actual drive. ¡°Finding out in such short notice, we kinda didn¡¯t even really have time to think about it. But we¡¯re here and he¡¯s so deserving.¡±

The journey to Truist Park was even crazier for Shelby Vondette, Schwellenbach¡¯s fianc¨¦e and childhood sweetheart. In a span of a few days, Vondette drove from Chattanooga, Tenn., west to the Missouri wedding, then south back down to Mississippi before the news of Schwellenbach¡¯s promotion broke. She was his first call. And then she jumped back in the car and drove east to Atlanta.

¡°The best word to describe it is probably chaotic,¡± she said. ¡°This is his dream. This is what he¡¯s playing for forever. I¡¯ve known him since he played ball in Little League, so it¡¯s really awesome to see it all be brought to life.¡±

Schwellenbach emerged from the Braves' clubhouse Wednesday night to a large gaggle of travel-worn supporters, including friends from Michigan he said he didn¡¯t even know were coming. Most will embark on their return trip soon, but Vondette will remain in Atlanta for now, where it looks like her fianc¨¦ could get more chances to help the Braves plug their leaky rotation.

¡°It was really special,¡± Schwellenbach said. ¡°Shelby has been my rock, for the past however many months, all the moving around. The wives, fianc¨¦es, girlfriends sometimes get overlooked, but they're always there for us, helping to make everything smooth.¡±