Monday started off a bit melancholy, like a lot of days early in this 2024 campaign for the Braves, with Hurston Waldrep being added to the 15-day IL after complaining of elbow soreness.
The #Braves today recalled OF Forrest Wall to Atlanta after optioning OF J.P. MartÃnez to Triple-A Gwinnett following yesterday’s game. Additionally, the club recalled RHP Daysbel Hernández to Atlanta and placed RHP Hurston Waldrep on the 15-day injured list with right elbow…
— Atlanta Braves (@Braves) June 17, 2024
Of course, anytime elbow soreness is in the same sentence as a pitcher, it’s usually not good. But according to Justin Toscano of The Atlanta Journal Constitution, an MRI revealed nothing more than inflammation. Hurston Waldrep will rest for a week, then begin throwing again.
Hurston Waldrep’s evaluation showed that it was what the Braves believed it to be — right elbow inflammation. This seems like the best-case scenario. He’ll be shut down for a week and then will begin building up again.
— Justin Toscano (@JustinCToscano) June 18, 2024
This is absolutely the best case scenario. In his two starts with the Braves, Hurston Waldrep looked a bit overmatched. His split-finger offering came as advertised, but he has to work on everything else before he can become a regular major-league starter.
That’s the case with 99% of pitchers that have logged less than 100 innings in the minors. This time last year, Waldrep was still tossing innings for the Florida Gators. The fact that he did enough to convince the Braves to even give him an opportunity this early into his professional career is a testament to his progression.
I wouldn’t expect to see Hurston Waldrep at the major-league level anytime soon. Let him heal up and keep working on his stuff in Gwinnett for the rest of the season. Perhaps there is an opportunity down the stretch when he can be utilized as a reliever. But as of now, his stuff isn’t ready to be a starting pitcher at the top level.
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Photo: Jeff Robinson/Icon Sportswire
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