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ANALYSIS: The Braves selected Hurtson Waldrep with the 24th overall pick in the 2023 draft, so they were definitely believers in his stuff, but there probably weren't too many that saw an early-June callup in the cards. 2024? Sure. But early-June? Although the righty made one start at Triple-A in 2023, the 22-year-old began 2024 at Double-A, then after nine starts he was promoted to Triple-A. He certainly looked like he belonged, going six innings and allowing three earned runs on five hits and a walk while striking out 11 batters in his only start.
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The Braves have been in need of a fifth starter ever since Spencer Strider was lost for the season, and the likes of Bryce Elder, AJ Smith-Shawver, and Spencer Schwellenbach have not been able to fill that role for a variety of reasons. Now they turn to Waldrep. While facing a divisional foe on the road may not be the optimal environment for an MLB debut, at least it will come against the Washington Nationals at Nationals Park and not the Philadelphia Phillies at Citizens Bank Park. The Nats have scored the sixth-fewest runs in the entire league this season and have hit the third-fewest home runs.
Waldrep features an "unhittable splitter" according to MLB.com's scouting report, and his four-seam fastball sits in the mid-to-upper 90's. He can be a little erratic at times, walking four batters in two separate starts early this season, but has walked two or fewer in five of his last six starts, so perhaps he's beginning to get his command under control.
Hurston Waldrep made his AAA debut and registered 11 K in 6.0 IP
Waldrep's splitter was on full display today, grading out very well and returning a 57.1 Whiff%. His 4-Seam and Slider were effective at inducing soft contact.
He generated 22 whiffs in a dominant debut! pic.twitter.com/2TvomkkrfN
— Thomas Nestico (@TJStats) June 2, 2024
Waldrep's brief minor league resume shows a career 2.55 ERA, 1.30 WHIP, and 100 K in 84 2/3 IP. He was drafted in the same class as Paul Skenes, and while he's no Skenes, he should have a better fate than some other recent call-ups like Cade Povich and the aforementioned Schwellenbach. Think more like Robert Gasser (pre-injury, of course). A recital of the litany of starting pitcher injuries this season is wearisome at this point, so managers looking for a solid waiver wire add at SP simply would be wise to consider Waldrep.
If he pitches well, there is an opportunity to stick around, and if he does, he'd also be on a team that can win many games. The Braves' second-ranked prospect is available in almost 90% of Yahoo leagues for the taking, and is worth a spot in deeper 12+ and 14+ team leagues until he proves otherwise.
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