When will Hurston Waldrep rejoin the Braves?

Hurston Waldrep made his Double-A debut on Thursday for his third rehab start after a couple of appearances in the Florida Complex League, and while the final stat line was ugly, it was another positive step toward getting him back to Atlanta.

The fastball was touching 99, and through three innings he was perfect, striking out three. The fourth is where things unraveled — a hit batter and a couple of singles were followed by a three-run home run, and he wouldn’t make it out of the inning. The final line: 3.2 innings, three hits, four earned runs, three strikeouts on 53 pitches.

That pitch count, and getting through the outing healthy, is really all that matters at this stage. The stuff is still jumping off the page — there are no concerns there. Now it’s simply about getting fully stretched out.

Waldrep will make his fourth rehab start next week, and the Braves will decide whether to keep him in Columbus or transfer him to Gwinnett. The goal will likely be somewhere around 65-70 pitches, with the fifth start targeting around 85.

If everything goes smoothly over the next couple of weeks, the Braves will have a decision to make. Waldrep still has options, so there’s no obligation to rush him, and if the current rotation continues to perform, perhaps they let him get fully comfortable before bringing him up.

But he’s too talented to keep down for long. Control has always been the key for Waldrep — as long as he’s throwing strikes, he has the potential to be the number two starter the Braves have been searching for all season. It’s very possible we see him back in Atlanta before the end of the month.