Atlanta Braves fans could see Hurston Waldrep sooner than expected

Despite Spencer Strider’s injury, the top of the Atlanta Braves’ rotation continues, but the same can’t be said for the pitchers placed in the four and five slots. Last year’s All-Star, Bryce Elder, has been struggling and is back in Gwinnett trying to make things right. AJ Smith-Shawver suffered an oblique strain and Ray Kerr allowed eight runs in two starts, totaling 7 2/3 IP. Meanwhile, Hurston Waldrep quickly moved from Pearl to Gwinnett.

After signing with the Braves in June 2023, Waldrep made one start with Augusta, moved to Rome for three starts, then to Mississippi for three more before finishing the season with four shutout innings for the Stripers in a start on September 29. the year with a combined 1.53 ERA in 29 1/3 IP.

Waldrep started this season at AA, making nine starts and throwing one 2.92 ERA, striking out 48 and walking 17 in 49 1/3 IP. Last Sunday, he found himself on the hump for the Stripers, against the loaded AAA team Orioles.

After giving up a double to Connor Norby and a home run to Heston Kjerstad (no shame in that, Kjerstad is a stud), Waldrep pitched six one-run, three-hit innings, striking out 11 ( including Norby and Kjerstad in their next AB) and walking one.

Keith Law released his latest Top 50 prospects list on Monday and placed Waldrep at No. 41.

“Waldrep was bombed in his first outing of the year, but since then he’s been rolling with a 1.74 ERA and, most importantly, a reasonable walk rate of just over 8 percent. Atlanta makes him throws his slider a lot more often, so he’s not so reliant on his split change in 70, and he succeeds at it, especially against lefties.

– Keith Law

I can’t tell you when it will happen, but I think we’ll see it before the All-Star Break. It’s not rocket science; it’s logic.

I’m not the only one who believes that another start like Sunday’s puts him at the top of the “next” list.

The Braves take care of their pitchers as well as any team, and today’s pitchers are better prepared than they were a decade ago, but I still worry about pitchers being rushed into the system because history tells us that bad things can happen.

However, there is a shortage of quality pitchers in the league, and no one is trading anyone right now and any trade will be expensive, so ready or not, it’s happening.

The Braves have a stretch of 31 games in 34 days that will challenge both starters and relievers. I think Waldrep will get the call at some point during this period.