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Hurston Waldrep

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Hurston Waldrep
Atlanta Braves – No. 30
Pitcher
Born: (2002-03-01) March 1, 2002 (age 22)
Cairo, Georgia, U.S.
Bats: Right
Throws: Right
MLB debut
June 9, 2024, for the Atlanta Braves
MLB statistics
(through 2024 season)
Win–loss record0–1
Earned run average16.71
Strikeouts3
Teams

Hurston Wayne Waldrep (born March 1, 2002) is an American professional baseball pitcher for the Atlanta Braves of Major League Baseball (MLB). He made his MLB debut in 2024.

Amateur career

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Waldrep attended Thomasville High School in Thomasville, Georgia, where he played on their baseball team as a pitcher and on their football team as a placekicker and punter.[1] He earned All-State honors in both sports.[2] He went unselected in the shortened 2020 Major League Baseball draft and enrolled at the University of Southern Mississippi to play college baseball.[3]

As a freshman for the Southern Mississippi Golden Eagles in 2021, Waldrep pitched 16+1⁄3 innings in relief and had a 1–0 win–loss record with a 3.31 earned run average (ERA) and 16 strikeouts.[4] For the 2022 season, he became Southern Mississippi's Sunday starter.[5] Over 17 starts, he went 6–2 with a 3.20 ERA, 140 strikeouts, and 33 walks over 90 innings.[6]

After the season, Waldrep entered the transfer portal[7][8] and transferred to the University of Florida.[9] That summer, he played with the USA Baseball Collegiate National Team.[10][11] He entered the 2023 season as a top prospect for the upcoming MLB draft.[12] For the Florida Gators that season, he started 19 games and went 10–3 with a 4.16 ERA and 156 strikeouts over 101+2⁄3 innings.[13]

Professional career

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The Atlanta Braves selected Waldrep in the first round, with the 24th overall pick, in the 2023 Major League Baseball draft.[14][15] On July 13, Waldrep signed with the Braves for an underslot deal worth $2,997,500.[16][17] He made his professional debut with the Augusta GreenJackets, striking out eight in a single three-inning start,[18][19] before earning a promotion to the Rome Braves.[20] In Rome, Waldrep threw twelve innings and seventeen strikeouts,[21] leading to his promotion to the Mississippi Braves.[22][23] On September 23, 2023, Waldrep made his first appearance at the Triple–A level, with the Gwinnett Stripers.[24][25]

Prior to the 2024 regular season, Waldrep was invited to spring training.[26] He began the season at Double-A Mississippi.[27] On June 9, 2024, Waldrep was selected to the 40-man roster and promoted to the major leagues for the first time.[28] He made his MLB debut the same day, in a game against the Washington Nationals.[29]

Pitching style

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As a prospect, the quality of Waldrep's splitter drew particular attention.[30][31]

References

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  1. ^ Lamar, Joey (August 24, 2020). "Bulldogs hoping they've found answer in replacing all-state kicker". WCTV. Retrieved June 21, 2024.
  2. ^ Dauer, Paige (June 24, 2020). "My Senior: Hurston Waldrep". WALB.
  3. ^ "Thomasville's Waldrep signs with USM for baseball". WTXL. November 20, 2019.
  4. ^ Watkins, Scott (February 10, 2022). "Who's going to pitch for Southern Miss? Here's a look at the projected rotation". Sun Herald. Retrieved September 2, 2023.
  5. ^ Curet, Taylor (May 6, 2022). "Hurston Waldrep's hard work paying off". WDAM.
  6. ^ "Which Southern Miss Baseball Pitchers Can Attract MLB Draft Interest?". June 16, 2022.
  7. ^ "Southern Miss starter Hurston Waldrep enters the transfer portal". Sun Herald. June 29, 2022.
  8. ^ "Southern Miss All-American pitcher Hurston Waldrep to enter transfer portal". June 30, 2022.
  9. ^ "Gators add impact pitching transfer Hurston Waldrep". Swamp247.
  10. ^ "USA Baseball Names 2022 Collegiate National Team Roster". USA Baseball.
  11. ^ Thompson, Clint (July 7, 2022). "Former THS ace selected to Team USA". Thomasville Times-Enterprise.
  12. ^ Callis, Jim. "Here's a first look at 2023's top Draft prospects". MLB.
  13. ^ "Where Florida Gators Wyatt Langford, Hurston Waldrep could go in MLB draft". Florida Times-Union. July 8, 2023. Retrieved September 2, 2023.
  14. ^ Murphy, Brian (July 9, 2023). "Braves take Florida RHP Waldrep with 24th pick". MLB.com. Retrieved July 10, 2023.
  15. ^ O'Brien, David (July 10, 2023). "Braves take three college arms on Day 1, led by intriguing first-rounder Hurston Waldrep". The Athletic. Retrieved August 30, 2023.
  16. ^ Toscano, Justin (July 14, 2023). "Braves Nation: Signing of draftees (with bonuses) is underway". Atlanta Journal Constitution. Retrieved August 30, 2023.
  17. ^ "Braves sign 20 of 21 2023 Draft picks". July 25, 2023. Retrieved August 30, 2023.
  18. ^ "BRAVES PROMOTE '23 FIRST ROUND PICK TO ROME". Coosa Valley News. August 8, 2023. Retrieved August 30, 2023.
  19. ^ "Braves Nation: First-round pick already promoted". Atlanta Journal Constitution. August 9, 2023. Retrieved August 30, 2023.
  20. ^ "Top pick Waldrep promoted to Rome". Rome News-Tribune. August 8, 2023. Retrieved August 30, 2023.
  21. ^ Johnstone, Patrick (August 29, 2023). "2023 Braves first-round pick, former Southern Miss pitcher, promoted to M-Braves". WLBT. Retrieved August 30, 2023.
  22. ^ Harris, Chris (August 29, 2023). "2023 first-round pick Hurston Waldrep promoted to Mississippi among a series of Tuesday roster moves". MILB.com. Retrieved August 30, 2023.
  23. ^ "Braves call up first-round pick, former USM star Waldrep to Double-A Mississippi". Vicksburg Post. August 29, 2023. Retrieved August 30, 2023.
  24. ^ "Braves' No. 1 pick Hurston Waldrep impresses in Triple-A; Charlie Culberson pitches again". Atlanta Journal Constitution. September 23, 2023. Retrieved September 24, 2023.
  25. ^ Toscano, Justin (September 24, 2023). "Braves first-round pick Hurston Waldrep will not be on team's postseason roster". Atlanta Journal Constitution. Retrieved September 28, 2023.
  26. ^ "Braves invite former Astros closer Ken Giles, top prospect Hurston Waldrep to spring". ESPN.com. Associated Press. February 2, 2024. Retrieved February 24, 2024.
  27. ^ Bowman, Justin (March 28, 2024). "Braves prospect Hurston Waldrep to begin season at Double-A Mississippi". Atlanta Journal Constitution. Retrieved March 31, 2024.
  28. ^ Toscano, Justin (June 8, 2024). "Top prospect Hurston Waldrep to make major league debut with Braves on Sunday". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. ISSN 1539-7459. Retrieved June 9, 2024.
  29. ^ https://www.mlb.com/news/hurston-waldrep-makes-major-league-debut-vs-nationals
  30. ^ Baumann, Michael (July 13, 2023). "Hurston Waldrep's Freaky Splitter Is Coming! Beware! Beware!". Fangraphs. Retrieved March 14, 2024.
  31. ^ Gilberto, Gerard (February 13, 2024). "Road to The Show™: Braves' Waldrep". MILB.com. Retrieved March 14, 2024.
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