Hurston Waldrep Explained

Hurston Waldrep
Team:Atlanta Braves
Number:30
Position:Pitcher
Birth Date:1 March 2002
Birth Place:Cairo, Georgia, U.S.
Bats:Right
Throws:Right
Debutleague:MLB
Debutdate:June 9
Debutyear:2024
Debutteam:Atlanta Braves
Statleague:MLB
Statyear:June 16, 2024
Stat1label:Win–loss record
Stat1value:0–1
Stat2label:Earned run average
Stat2value:16.71
Stat3label:Strikeouts
Stat3value:3
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

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 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 innings.[13]

Professional career

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]

Pitching style

As a prospect, the quality of Waldrep's splitter drew particular attention.[29] [30]

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Lamar . Joey . August 24, 2020 . Bulldogs hoping they've found answer in replacing all-state kicker . 2024-06-21 . WCTV.
  2. Web site: My Senior: Hurston Waldrep. Paige. Dauer. WALB. June 24, 2020 .
  3. Web site: Thomasville's Waldrep signs with USM for baseball. November 20, 2019. WTXL.
  4. News: Watkins . Scott . Who's going to pitch for Southern Miss? Here's a look at the projected rotation . September 2, 2023 . Sun Herald . February 10, 2022.
  5. Web site: Hurston Waldrep's hard work paying off. Taylor. Curet. WDAM. May 6, 2022 .
  6. Web site: Which Southern Miss Baseball Pitchers Can Attract MLB Draft Interest?. June 16, 2022.
  7. Web site: Southern Miss starter Hurston Waldrep enters the transfer portal. June 29, 2022. Sun Herald.
  8. Web site: Southern Miss All-American pitcher Hurston Waldrep to enter transfer portal. June 30, 2022.
  9. Web site: Gators add impact pitching transfer Hurston Waldrep. Swamp247.
  10. Web site: USA Baseball Names 2022 Collegiate National Team Roster. USA Baseball.
  11. Web site: Former THS ace selected to Team USA. Clint. Thompson. Thomasville Times-Enterprise. July 7, 2022 .
  12. Web site: Here's a first look at 2023's top Draft prospects. Jim. Callis. MLB.
  13. News: Where Florida Gators Wyatt Langford, Hurston Waldrep could go in MLB draft . September 2, 2023 . Florida Times-Union . July 8, 2023.
  14. News: Murphy . Brian . Braves take Florida RHP Waldrep with 24th pick . July 10, 2023 . MLB.com . July 9, 2023.
  15. News: O'Brien . David . Braves take three college arms on Day 1, led by intriguing first-rounder Hurston Waldrep . August 30, 2023 . The Athletic . July 10, 2023.
  16. News: Toscano . Justin . Braves Nation: Signing of draftees (with bonuses) is underway . August 30, 2023 . Atlanta Journal Constitution . July 14, 2023.
  17. News: Braves sign 20 of 21 2023 Draft picks . August 30, 2023 . July 25, 2023.
  18. News: BRAVES PROMOTE '23 FIRST ROUND PICK TO ROME . August 30, 2023 . Coosa Valley News . August 8, 2023.
  19. News: Braves Nation: First-round pick already promoted . August 30, 2023 . Atlanta Journal Constitution . August 9, 2023.
  20. News: Top pick Waldrep promoted to Rome . August 30, 2023 . Rome News-Tribune . August 8, 2023.
  21. News: Johnstone . Patrick . 2023 Braves first-round pick, former Southern Miss pitcher, promoted to M-Braves . August 30, 2023 . WLBT . August 29, 2023.
  22. News: Harris . Chris . 2023 first-round pick Hurston Waldrep promoted to Mississippi among a series of Tuesday roster moves . August 30, 2023 . MILB.com . August 29, 2023.
  23. News: Braves call up first-round pick, former USM star Waldrep to Double-A Mississippi . August 30, 2023 . Vicksburg Post . August 29, 2023.
  24. News: Braves' No. 1 pick Hurston Waldrep impresses in Triple-A; Charlie Culberson pitches again . September 24, 2023 . Atlanta Journal Constitution . September 23, 2023.
  25. News: Toscano . Justin . Braves first-round pick Hurston Waldrep will not be on team's postseason roster . September 28, 2023 . Atlanta Journal Constitution . September 24, 2023.
  26. News: Braves invite former Astros closer Ken Giles, top prospect Hurston Waldrep to spring . February 24, 2024 . Associated Press . ESPN.com . February 2, 2024.
  27. News: Bowman . Justin . Braves prospect Hurston Waldrep to begin season at Double-A Mississippi . March 31, 2024 . Atlanta Journal Constitution . March 28, 2024.
  28. News: Toscano . Justin . Top prospect Hurston Waldrep to make major league debut with Braves on Sunday . 2024-06-09 . The Atlanta Journal-Constitution . English . 1539-7459.
  29. News: Baumann . Michael . Hurston Waldrep's Freaky Splitter Is Coming! Beware! Beware! . March 14, 2024 . Fangraphs . July 13, 2023.
  30. News: Gilberto . Gerard . Road to The Show™: Braves' Waldrep . March 14, 2024 . MILB.com . February 13, 2024.

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