Hurston Waldrep

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Hurston Waldrep
Atlanta Braves – No. 93
Pitcher
Born: (2002-03-01) March 1, 2002 (age 22)
Cairo, Georgia, U.S.
Bats: Right
Throws: Right

Hurston Wayne Waldrep (born March 1, 2002) is an American professional baseball pitcher in the Atlanta Braves organization.

Amateur career[edit]

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 kicker 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 at Southern Mississippi in 2021, Waldrep pitched 16+1⁄3 innings in relief and went 1–0 with a 3.31 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 ninety innings.[6] After the season, he entered the transfer portal.[7][8] He later 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 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[edit]

Waldrep was selected in the first round with the 24th overall pick in the 2023 Major League Baseball draft by the Atlanta Braves.[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]

Pitching style[edit]

As a prospect, the quality of Waldrep's splitter drew particular attention.[28][29]

References[edit]

  1. ^ Lamar, Joey. "Bulldogs hoping they've found answer in replacing all-state kicker". WCTV.
  2. ^ Dauer, Paige. "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. "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. "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. ^ Baumann, Michael (July 13, 2023). "Hurston Waldrep's Freaky Splitter Is Coming! Beware! Beware!". Fangraphs. Retrieved March 14, 2024.
  29. ^ Gilberto, Gerard (February 13, 2024). "Road to The Show™: Braves' Waldrep". MILB.com. Retrieved March 14, 2024.

External links[edit]

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