FEBRUARY 26 • SACBEE.COM
HURSTON WALDREP
Hurston Waldrep finds unexpected ending to his Spring Training debut Producing no hits and no runs to secure the win wasn’t enough to secure Hurston Waldrep’s spot in the majors.
Sent back to Triple-A Atlanta optioned Waldrep to Triple-A Gwinnett on Tuesday.
Impact Waldrep made a single appearance during spring training before being optioned. He pitched one inning, allowing just one runner on base and no runs in his appearance. The young 22-year-old had a brief stint in the majors for Atlanta in 2024 during June, but allowed 13 earned runs across seven innings in his two appearances. At Triple-A Gwinnett in 2024, he posted a 3.38 ERA across 40.0 innings of work after starting the year at the rookie-level Florida Complex League. After climbing the minor league levels in 2024, he will get to begin his 2025 campaign a step away from the majors.
FEBRUARY 25 • ROTOWIRE
Reintroducing curve to arsenal Waldrep is working on his curveball this spring after previously shelving the pitch, Justin Toscano of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports.
Impact Atlanta wanted the right-hander to refine his slider after selecting him in the first round of the 2023 Draft, as it would make a better complement to his plus-plus splitter. Now that he's comfortable with the slider however, he can turn his attention back to the curve. "So, the focus, when we got rid of it, was to work on the slider - to work on making the slider kind of the forefront of the arsenal and let it make the splitter better, really," Waldrep said Tuesday. "So, adding the curveball back just kind of gives me a little better tool to lefties. It fits my fastball really well out of my arm slot, and it just kind of made sense to bring it back." The 22-year-old also took time this winter to study how pitchers like Gerrit Cole, Max Scherzer and Justin Verlander incorporated their curveballs into their pitch mix. Waldrep is likely to begin the season back at Triple-A Gwinnett, and while adding another reliable pitch can only help, control and command remain the biggest obstacles between him and a regular spot in the Atlanta rotation.
FEBRUARY 19 • ROTOWIRE
Braves notes: Chris Sale on Saturday, Hurston Waldrep reintroduces curveball Sale also is the reigning National League Cy Young Award winner and the obvious choice to start the season opener against the Padres.
FEBRUARY 18 • AJC.COM
Reinstated, optioned to Triple-A Waldrep (elbow) was reinstated from the 15-day injured list and optioned to Triple-A Gwinnett on Monday, David O'Brien of The Athletic reports.
Impact Waldrep has been out since mid-June while nursing right elbow inflammation, but he'll now officially make his return from the IL. The right-hander made two rehab assignment appearances, allowing five runs over four frames while striking out six batters. Waldrep has made two starts in the big leagues in 2024, giving up 13 runs over seven innings, so he'll look to find a groove with Gwinnett in order to potentially get another shot with Atlanta down the road.
JULY 29, 2024 • ROTOWIRE
Reinstated, optioned to Triple-A Atlanta activated Waldrep (elbow) from the 15-day injured list Monday and optioned him to Triple-A Gwinnett, David O'Brien of The Athletic reports.
Impact Waldrep had been on the shelf since mid-June while nursing right elbow inflammation, but Atlanta came away convinced in his health after the right-hander tossed a pair of two-inning rehab starts between the rookie-level Florida Complex League and Single-A Augusta last week. Before being deactivated, the right-hander made two starts with Atlanta, giving up 13 runs over seven innings. He had previously made only one start with Gwinnett before being called up for his MLB debut, so Atlanta will likely have Waldrep settle in for a bit in the Triple-A rotation and find some success before considering him for a return to the majors.
JULY 29, 2024 • ROTOWIRE
Ready for rehab assignment Atlanta sent Waldrep (elbow) to its Florida Complex League affiliate Tuesday to begin a rehab assignment.
Impact Waldrep is ready to ramp things back up in game action after missing more than a month with right elbow inflammation. The young right-hander will eventually move up to Triple-A Gwinnett and seems likely to remain there for a while rather than rejoin Atlanta. Waldrep has surrendered 13 runs with a 3:8 K:BB over seven innings in his first two big-league starts.
JULY 23, 2024 • ROTOWIRE
Braves notes: Hurston Waldrep to the IL, Brian Snitker's fun moment with a reporter The Braves initially planned to option Hurston Waldrep following Sunday’s start against the Rays. Instead, they placed him on the injured li...
JUNE 17, 2024 • AJC.COM
Braves place RHP Hurston Waldrep (elbow) on injured list The Atlanta Braves placed right-hander Hurston Waldrep on the 15-day injured list Monday with elbow inflammation.Waldrep, 22, reported soren...
JUNE 17, 2024 • NEWSOBSERVER.COM
Placed on IL with elbow injury Atlanta placed Waldrep on the 15-day injured list Monday with right elbow inflammation.
Impact It was reported Sunday that Waldrep was being optioned to Triple-A Gwinnett, but he's landed on the IL instead after reporting elbow soreness following Sunday's outing versus the Rays. It's not clear how long Waldrep might be out, but he's sure to be optioned to Gwinnett once deemed healthy. Waldrep has allowed 13 runs with a 3:8 K:BB over seven innings in two starts with the big club.
JUNE 17, 2024 • ROTOWIRE
Demoted after another poor start Atlanta optioned Waldrep to Triple-A Gwinnett following Sunday's 8-6 loss to the Rays, Gabe Burns of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports.
Impact After he yielded seven earned runs and walked four batters in just 3.2 innings in his MLB debut last Sunday in Washington, Waldrep was given another chance to prove he belonged in Atlanta's rotation. Unfortunately for the 22-year-old righty, he was sent back to the minors after displaying shaky command and control for a second straight outing. He was once again pulled midway through the fourth inning Sunday, needing 71 pitches (42 strikes) to record 10 outs while striking out two and allowing six earned runs on five hits -- including two home runs -- and four walks. The long-term outlook remains bright for Waldrep, but he'll need further seasoning in the upper levels of the minors before he gets another look in the Atlanta rotation.
JUNE 16, 2024 • ROTOWIRE
Reasigned to minor-league camp Waldrep was reassigned to minor-league camp by Atlanta on Friday, David O'Brien of The Athletic reports.
Impact Waldrep had an impressive spring debut March 3 when he pitched two scoreless innings with two strikeouts and two walks. The 24th overall pick of the 2023 draft could see some time in the majors this season if he's able to show out in the minors.
MARCH 8, 2024 • ROTOWIRE
