Braves' Hurston Waldrep: Reinstated, optioned to Triple-A
Rotowire
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.
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.
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Braves' Hurston Waldrep: Ready for rehab assignment
Rotowire
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: Placed on IL with elbow injury
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Atlanta placed Waldrep on the 15-day injured list Monday with right elbow inflammation.
After Waldrep was roughed up his second MLB start in Sunday's 8-6 loss to the Rays, the coaching staff initially informed him that he was being optioned to Triple-A Gwinnett. However, David O'Brien of The Athletic, Waldrep then told team trainers that he was more sore than usual following Sunday's start, and exams revealed inflammation in his elbow. He'll thus stick around with the big club as a member of the injured list for now, but Waldrep will presumably be optioned to Gwinnett once he makes a full recovery from the inflamed elbow. Waldrep allowed 13 runs with a 3:8 K:BB over seven innings in his first two big-league starts.
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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.
