Braves' Hurston Waldrep: Optioned after making final start
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Atlanta optioned Waldrep to Triple-A Gwinnett on Friday, Grant McAuley of the Marietta Daily Journal reports.
Waldrep made his final start of the season Tuesday against the Nationals, so Atlanta will replace him on the roster with reliever Hayden Harris. The 23-year-old right-hander should be locked into Atlanta's 2026 rotation after collecting a 2.88 ERA, 1.19 WHIP and 55:22 K:BB in 56.1 innings this season.
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Braves' Hurston Waldrep: Earns sixth win
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Waldrep (6-1) got the win over the Nationals on Tuesday, allowing one run on five hits and four walks while striking out five in six innings.
Some control issues in the third inning led to a run for the Nationals, but Waldrep was otherwise excellent in what was the final start of his rookie season. Waldrep recorded his first quality start since Aug. 20, but he had just one outing in 10 appearances (nine starts) this season in which he allowed more than three runs. He finishes 2025 with a 2.88 ERA, 1.19 WHIP and 55:22 K:BB in 56.1 innings and will certainly be a name to watch for Atlanta next spring as he competes for a spot in the rotation.
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Braves' Hurston Waldrep: Humbled by Houston
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Waldrep (4-1) took the loss Friday as Atlanta got routed 11-3 by the Astros, coughing up eight runs on eight hits and two walks over 4.2 innings. He struck out four.
The 23-year-old right-hander finally got saddled with his first loss of the season in his eighth appearances (seventh start), and Waldrep gave up more runs Friday than he had in the prior seven trips to the mound combined as his ERA soared from 1.33 to 2.78 as a result of the disastrous performance. After throwing 103.1 innings across all levels in 2024 and 137 frames between Triple-A and majors this season, Waldrep may be running out of gas -- he hasn't been able to complete six innings in any of his last four starts. He's scheduled to make his next outing on the road next week against the Nationals.
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Braves' Hurston Waldrep: Fans seven in third win
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Waldrep (3-0) earned the win over the Guardians on Friday, allowing two hits and two walks while striking out seven over six scoreless innings.
The 23-year-old generated 14 swinging strikes on 95 pitches and set a career high with seven strikeouts, blanking Cleveland for his first career scoreless outing. Since being recalled, the young starter has been impressive, winning each of his first three outings while yielding only two total runs across 17.2 innings. His ability to command the zone and miss bats has quickly made him a valuable boost to Atlanta's injury-prone rotation, and he'll take a 1.02 ERA, 0.79 WHIP and 17:5 K:BB into his next scheduled start against the White Sox.
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Braves' Hurston Waldrep: Shines in second victory
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Waldrep (2-0) earned the win over Miami in the first game of Saturday's doubleheader, allowing one run on four hits and one walk while striking out six batters over six innings.
Waldrep was called up for the contest for what could just be a spot start. The rookie right-hander at least gave Atlanta something to think about in terms of leaving him in the rotation, as he not only earned the victory, he also notched his first career quality start while racking up 12 whiffs and six punchouts over six frames. Through two major-league outings, Waldrep has surrendered just two runs over 11.2 innings while posting a 10:3 K:BB. Atlanta's pitching staff has been hit hard by injuries this season, and among current starters, none were part of the Opening Day rotation. With some shifting, that could leave room for Waldrep to be given a chance to remain a big-league starter, though it's worth noting that Chris Sale (ribs) is beginning a minor-league rehab stint next week and could be activated off the IL not long thereafter.
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Braves' Hurston Waldrep: Recalled ahead of start
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Atlanta recalled Waldrep from Triple-A Gwinnett ahead of his start in the first game of Saturday's doubleheader against the Marlins at Truist Park.
Although he carries a 4.42 ERA and 1.48 WHIP through 19 starts in the minors this season, Waldrep was effective in his 2025 debut for Atlanta in this past Sunday's MLB Speedway Classic. While technically making a relief appearance after the game was suspended in the first inning Saturday before being resumed Sunday, the 23-year-old gave up just one run in 5.2 innings against the Reds. He'll now aim to silence a Marlins squad that has been surging since the All-Star break. Dylan Dodd was optioned to Triple-A in a corresponding move.
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Braves' Hurston Waldrep: Called up Sunday
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Atlanta recalled Waldrep from Triple-A Gwinnett to serve as the 27th man for the continuation of the MLB Speedway Classic against the Reds on Sunday in Bristol, Tenn.
Saturday's game was marred by two rain delays before being suspended during the first inning, and Waldrep will join Atlanta to potentially provide some length. The 23-year-old was scheduled to start Sunday for Triple-A Gwinnett and should be available for a full workload. Waldrep surrendered 13 earned runs across his first two MLB appearances last season and has a 4.42 ERA, 1.48 WHIP and 92:50 K:BB over 91.2 innings this season with Gwinnett.
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Braves' Hurston Waldrep: In mix to start Tuesday
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Waldrep was scratched ahead of his most recent scheduled start with Triple-A Gwinnett on Friday and could be recalled to enter the Atlanta rotation Tuesday in Kansas City, Lindsay Crosby of AthlonSports.com reports.
While Waldrep hasn't yet joined Atlanta's taxi squad and remained with Gwinnett as of Sunday, the right-hander could still easily meet up with the big club Monday. Though the newly acquired Erick Fedde looks like a good bet to assume one of the two vacancies in the Atlanta rotation, Waldrep appears to be a strong candidate to fill the other spot on the heels of a strong run at Gwinnett of late. Over his last six outings in Triple-A, the 23-year-old has submitted a 2.41 ERA, 1.19 WHIP and 28:15 K:BB in 33.2 innings.
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Braves' Hurston Waldrep: Fans 10 at Gwinnett
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Waldrep struck out 10 batters for Triple-A Gwinnett on Thursday, allowing two runs on two hits and two walks over 5.1 innings.
The 23-year-old right-hander put together his longest, and best, outing of the season, tossing 95 pitches (56 strikes) as he fanned double-digit batters for the third time in his minor-league career. Waldrep is still searching for some consistency, and through seven starts for Gwinnett in 2025 he's stumbled to a 6.35 ERA, 1.85 WHIP and 31:20 K:BB in 28.1 innings. The 2023 first-round pick will need to string together a few more strong performances like this before he'll be an option to bolster Atlanta's rotation.
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Braves' Hurston Waldrep: Ready for rehab assignment
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Atlanta sent Waldrep (elbow) to the rookie-level Florida Complex League on Tuesday to begin a rehab assignment.
Waldrep is ready for game action after missing more than a month with right elbow inflammation. The young right-hander will eventually move his assignment to Triple-A Gwinnett, and he seems likely to stay there once he's activated from the 15-day injured list, unless Atlanta has an opening in its rotation. Waldrep surrendered 13 runs with a 3:8 K:BB over seven innings in his first two big-league starts before landing on the IL.
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Braves' Hurston Waldrep: Shut down for a week
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Waldrep (elbow) will be shut down from throwing for one week, Justin Toscano of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports.
Waldrep is dealing with right elbow inflammation, and he'll now be forced to take a seat for at least a week before attempting to build his activity back up. He was placed on the 15-day injured list Monday after making his second start of the year Sunday versus the Rays, giving up six runs over 3.1 innings.
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Braves' Hurston Waldrep: Gets demoted after another poor start
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Atlanta is expected to option Waldrep to Triple-A Gwinnett following Sunday's 8-6 loss to the Rays, Gabe Burns of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports.
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 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.
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Braves' Hurston Waldrep: Takes loss in debut
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Waldrep (0-1) took the loss Sunday, allowing seven runs on four hits and four walks over 3.2 innings against the Nationals. He struck out one.
Waldrep began his major-league debut well, allowing only a walk over the first three innings. However, the bottom fell out in the fourth when he allowed seven of the nine batters he faced to reach base, and he was pulled with two outs and the bases loaded having already allowed four runs. Reliever Aaron Bummer then came on, allowing a double to the next batter, CJ Abrams, who cleared the bases. Despite the ugly result, the 22-year-old prospect looked the part through three and should receive more chances to stick in the rotation for the time being. Should he make his next turn, he would be tentatively slated to start next weekend when the Rays come to Atlanta for an interleague showdown.
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Braves' Hurston Waldrep: Fans career-high 11 for Gwinnett
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Waldrep gave up three runs on five hits and a walk over six innings for Triple-A Gwinnett on Sunday, striking out a career-high 11.
In his first start since getting bumped up from Double-A Mississippi, Waldrep was dominant, firing 64 of 89 pitches for strikes against a Norfolk lineup that included top O's prospects like Heston Kjerstad and Connor Norby. Kjerstad did tag the right-hander for a two-run homer in the first inning, but Waldrep got locked in after that. Between Double-A and Triple-A, he sports a 3.09 ERA, 1.36 WHIP and 59:18 K:BB through 55.1 innings this season. Given the issues Atlanta has had filling out the back of its big-league rotation, Waldrep could earn one more promotion before the end of the year if he continues to post strong numbers for Gwinnett.
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Braves' Hurston Waldrep: Bumps up to Triple-A
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Atlanta promoted Waldrep from Double-A Mississippi to Triple-A Gwinnett on Saturday.
Atlanta recently turned to Waldrep's Double-A rotation mate, Spencer Schwellenbach, to fill the vacancy in its big-league rotation, but the former ended up receiving a promotion of his own a few days later. He made his Gwinnett debut in Sunday's 3-1 loss to Norfolk, striking out a season-high 11 batters over six innings while allowing three runs on five hits and one walk. Prior to moving up to Gwinnett, Waldrep had overwhelmed competition at the Double-A level, pitching to a 2.92 ERA, 1.41 WHIP and 48:17 K:BB in 49.1 innings. Though he doesn't possess a spot on Atlanta's 40-man roster, Waldrep could still be in line to make his big-league debut later in 2024 if he continues to find success at Gwinnett.
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Braves' Hurston Waldrep: Beginning season at Double-A
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Waldrep will begin the season at Double-A Mississippi, Justin Toscano of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports.
The 22-year-old right-hander ended last season by making one start for Triple-A Gwinnett, but he'd made only three starts for Mississippi prior to that, so this isn't a demotion. It does mark Waldrep as firmly behind AJ Smith-Shawver and Bryce Elder in the pecking order for a potential call-up to the majors, however. Waldrep zoomed through four levels last year after being selected with the 24th overall pick in the 2023 First-Year Player Draft, posting a 1.53 ERA and 41:16 K:BB over 29.1 innings, but he didn't work five or more innings in any of his outings. He'll focus on improving his stamina and command at Double-A, and a midseason bump to Triple-A seems likely.
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Braves' Hurston Waldrep: Reassigned to minor-league camp
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Waldrep was reassigned to minor-league camp by Atlanta on Friday, David O'Brien of The Athletic reports.
Waldrep had an impressive spring debut March 3, when he pitched two scoreless innings with two strikeouts and two walks. The 24th overall pick in the 2023 Draft could make his major-league debut this season if he pitches well in the minors.
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Braves' Hurston Waldrep: Solid spring debut
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Waldrep walked two and struck out two without giving up a hit over two scoreless innings during Saturday's Grapefruit League game against the Blue Jays.
One of Atlanta's top pitching prospects had a good showing in his spring debut, entering the game in the fifth inning and promptly fanning Danny Jansen. Waldrep wound up tossing 19 of 34 pitches for strikes, and improving his control will be a point of emphasis for the 22-year-old right-hander this season after he posted a 41:16 K:BB in 29.1 innings across four levels last season in his pro debut. While he almost certainly won't break camp on the Opening Day roster, Waldrep appears poised to see action with Atlanta at some point this summer after being the 24th overall pick in the 2023 Draft.
