The highly regarded Hurston Waldrep out of Florida was selected by the Braves in the first round of the previous season, and he quickly had an impact on the entire team. Hurston Waldrep is one of the best pitchers in the game.
Waldrep garnered attention each time he touched the rubber during his rookie season of professional ball, going on to earn a 1.53 ERA and an absurd 12.6 K/9. He started the season with the Low-A Augusta Green Jackets and ended it with four scoreless innings pitched in his last start of 2023 for the AAA Gwinnett Stripers. Waldrep, at 22 years old, is ecstatic about his first chance to participate in major-league Spring Training and fight for the final position turning around.
When questioned about the Braves’ competition for the fifth slot in the rotation, Hurston Waldrep responded, “It’s baseball.” “Nothing is ever guaranteed by you. Nothing is ever out of reach, so you have to just do what you have to do.
Though most top overall picks will likely spend a few years in the minors, Hurston Waldrep is a special talent with a fastball in the high nineties and a wicked splitter that was possibly the worst pitch in college baseball last season. In terms of their young players, the Braves also don’t function like most teams; like they did with Spencer Strider, Michael Harris II, AJ Smith-Shawver, and others, they gladly push their rising stars through the ranks if they think they’re ready as well as many others.
Indeed, Waldrep stated, “You see this organization, they like moving guys fast, and obviously last year everything moved really fast. So realizing there is always the chance for any spot and seeing what they’ve done in the past is very important.”
There will be fierce competition for the last position in the rotation. After a subpar second half, Bryce Elder, a 2023 National League All-Star, may find himself on the outside looking in for the second straight season. Although Elder remains my personal preference, nothing will be given to him if he struggles in Spring Training because the men vying with him have a lot going for them.
Reynaldo Lopez is the race’s dark horse. The Braves said that they would open the season with him stretched out. Even after acquiring Chris Sale, they have remained true to their word since they signed him. Though Lopez has flourished in a relief role over the past few years, it may be best for him in that capacity. Still, the Braves can’t be blamed for trying to get a little more out of one of baseball’s most gifted arms.
When Huascar Ynoa recovers from Tommy John surgery, he too shouldn’t be written out. Similar to Lopez, his fastball’s life, which can reach triple digits, is what draws people in. It appeared like Ynoa would be a mainstay in the Braves rotation for many years to come just a few years ago.
Hurston Waldrep and AJ Smith-Shawver are two of the young guns. The 20-year-old Smith-Shawver was introduced to Braves fans a year ago, so anyone who believes they won’t give Waldrep a similar chance if he does well hasn’t been paying attention.
One of the organization’s most gifted arms is that of the 22-year-old Florida right-hander, who occasionally hits players under those circumstances, it is preferable to let them go.
