The Atlanta Braves have decided to call up pitching prospect Hurston Waldrep, less than a year after selecting him 24th overall in the 2023 MLB Draft. Waldrep, a native of Thomasville, Georgia, will make his Major League debut on Sunday, June 8, in Washington against the Nationals.
Waldrep’s Journey: “It was obviously a big surprise,” Waldrep told MLB.com’s Mark Bowman. “It’s pretty cool to just be here, take all of this in, enjoy all of the firsts and just play some baseball.”
Despite having just 11 months of professional experience and only two starts in AAA, Waldrep has shown promise. In 9 starts at AA Mississippi, he has posted a 3.28 ERA and a 1.399 WHIP. His debut will allow Max Fried an extra day of rest, pushing Fried’s start to Tuesday.
To make room for Waldrep on the 40-man roster, the Braves may move Ronald Acuna Jr. or Spencer Strider to the 60-day injured list, according to Mark Polishuk of MLB Trade Rumors.
Prospect Promotion Strategy: At 22, Waldrep is under little pressure but could secure a spot in the majors with strong performances. The Braves have been proactive in promoting their prospects, including Spencer Schwellenbach, their No. 3 prospect, after only two games above High-A.
“I set really high goals, and I’m a really high achiever,” Waldrep said. “Everything I do on a daily basis, I put forth to achieve those goals. I can’t say I had [getting to the Majors this soon] in mind, but I also can’t say it was out of the picture.”
Scouting Report: Waldrep features a fastball, slider, curveball, and a splitter, which is his standout pitch. His mid-90s fastball can reach 99 mph. “I’ve always been a guy who throws the ball as hard as I can,” Waldrep noted. “Throw hard and leave everything on the field. That’s always been my motto.”
In AA this season, Waldrep has kept 45.5% of batted balls on the ground and allowed only 2 home runs in 49.1 innings. His walk rate has improved significantly from 15.6% last year to 7.9% this season.
“He’s a big, physical, strong kid with a really good arm and good stuff,” Braves manager Brian Snitker said. “His stuff plays up here.”
Braves’ Rotation Strategy: The Braves’ rotation has been solid with Max Fried, Chris Sale, Reynaldo Lopez, and Charlie Morton, each making at least 11 starts with sub-3.90 ERAs. However, with Spencer Strider out for the season, Waldrep will be the seventh pitcher to fill that spot.
Considering neither Sale nor Lopez has pitched a full season since 2019, the Braves might consider a six-man rotation or occasionally skipping starts to keep them fresh. Waldrep, who threw 101.2 innings in his final collegiate season and is currently at 55.1 innings, should not face a significant workload issue if he remains in the majors. He projects as an above-average starter and could also be an elite closer if needed.
The Braves look forward to seeing what Waldrep can bring to the team as they navigate the remainder of the season.
Leave a Reply