Baseball rarely sticks to the script, just look at the Atlanta Braves’ season this year. For Hurston Waldrep, that chaos just handed him the best opportunity of his young career.
The Braves’ No. 4 prospect wasn’t supposed to pitch in the Majors this weekend. In fact, he wasn’t even supposed to leave Triple-A. But after rain turned the MLB Speedway Classic into a logistical disaster, a few last-minute roster shuffles put Waldrep in a position to show exactly why he belongs.
From Emergency Call-Up to Longest Relief Outing in Six Years
The call came late Saturday night. Waldrep was getting ready to pitch for Gwinnett, but a soggy forecast in both Georgia and Tennessee changed everything.
At 11 p.m., he was told to pack a bag and head to Bristol Motor Speedway. By 5:15 a.m., he was on the road. By 10 a.m., he had arrived. And by early afternoon, he was pitching against the Cincinnati Reds in front of a national TV audience. Not exactly a stress-free scenario.
Waldrep entered in the bottom of the first inning with two runners on and one out, and Elly De La Cruz was already at second base.
“Yeah, to add to everything that was going on, I got here and they’re like, yeah, you got one out, runner on first and second. Oh, Elly De La Cruz is on second. He’s gonna steal third,” Waldrep said mid-game to Fox Sports. “I was like, all right. Here we go.”
But instead of unraveling, Waldrep thrived. He tossed 5 2/3 innings of one-run ball, allowing just three hits, two walks, and striking out four — all on his signature splitter, which looked sharp and unhittable. The performance not only earned him his first career MLB win, but it also marked the longest relief outing by a Braves pitcher in six years, according to the broadcast.
Braves Finally Turn to the Prospect They Kept Passing Over
It’s no secret the Braves weren’t in a rush to call up Waldrep. His struggles in the minors earlier this season made him a last-resort option. Atlanta tried multiple alternatives in recent weeks, sometimes literally reversing course on planned call-ups.
But on Sunday, they had no choice. And Waldrep delivered.
The performance couldn’t have come at a better time. The Braves’ rotation is banged up and inconsistent. Austin Riley just aggravated an injury. Spencer Strider didn’t end up pitching. Every option counts right now — and Waldrep just gave the front office something they can’t ignore.
Will Waldrep Start vs. the Marlins?
With the Miami Marlins series on deck and the Braves grasping for rotation depth, Waldrep’s breakout outing couldn’t have been louder. He just proved he can pitch under pressure, execute his best pitch at a high level, and keep a powerful lineup in check.
At this point, what do the Braves have to lose?
Waldrep’s unexpected call-up could become a turning point — not just for the team, but for his MLB future. Whether he sticks for now or heads back down briefly, he’s made one thing clear: the next time Atlanta needs innings, they won’t hesitate again.
