Former Gators Pitcher Solid in First Spring Training Appearance of 2025

Atlanta Braves No. 2 prospect and former Florida Gators pitcher Hurston Waldrep made his 2025 Spring Training debut in the 2-1 win over the Pittsburgh Pirates. In his third-ever appearance in a Spring Training game, he came out of the bullpen and pitched a scoreless inning. He allowed no hits and while striking out none and walking a batter. 

His day required a little bit of work. He needed 16 pitches to get through four batters.

Last Spring, he pitched 4 1/3 innings across two appearances allowing no runs on two hits while walking four. 

Waldrep was the Braves No. 3 prospect on MLB.com in 2024. His ranking for the upcoming season will be revealed when the top 30 drops in March. The Braves drafted him in the first round of the 2023 MLB Draft. 

Expectations have been increased by his peers heading into this season. First baseman Matt Olson named Waldrep as someone who could make the jump this season. 

Waldrep pitched for Florida for one season after spending two years with Southern Mississippi.  He finished 10-3 with a 4.19 ERA in 19 weekend starts. He received multiple honors, including being named to the 2023 Second Team All-American (D1Baseball), the 2023 ABCA First Team Southeast All-Region and the 2023 NCAA Gainesville Regional All-Tournament Team.

He made his Major League debut last season when the Braves were in desperate need of rotation help. He wasn’t ready for The Show, to put it lightly. The 22-year-old made two starts in June, just 11 months after he was drafted. 

He gave up 13 earned runs in seven combined innings. His ERA was 16.71 and his WHIP was 2.43. Before he could be sent back to Triple-A, it was revealed he had elbow inflammation. He missed over a month. 

He finished the Triple-A season with a 3.38 ERA in 40 innings pitched in eight starts. However, in his final six starts, he had a 2.22 ERA with one run or fewer allowed in five of them. 

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