The Atlanta Braves are dealing with another pitching injury, as Hurston Waldrep left his Triple-A start Sunday with right arm discomfort and appears unlikely to return this season.
Manager Walt Weiss said before Monday’s game against the Padres that the 24-year-old right-hander will undergo further evaluation this week. It’s been a tough road for Waldrep, who already had arthroscopic surgery in February to remove loose bodies from his right elbow.
While the Braves haven’t made any official announcement about Waldrep’s status, the writing seems to be on the wall. Braves Today’s Lindsay Crosby reported Saturday that Waldrep was at Gwinnett Field cleaning out his locker and taking his belongings.
“Hurston Waldrep was at Gwinnett Field today, cleaning out his locker and taking his stuff. Teammates were spotted looking at his elbow during various conversations. Feels like that’s a bit of confirmation that he’s likely not coming back this year.”
That’s not the kind of activity you see from a player who expects to return anytime soon.
For a franchise that’s dealt with rotation health issues over the past few seasons, losing Waldrep is another blow to their depth. The Braves selected him with the 24th overall pick in the 2023 MLB Draft and signed him to a $2.997 million contract, viewing him as a key piece of their pitching future.
What makes this particularly frustrating is the timing. Waldrep was coming off a strong finish to last season, and the organization was eager to see him build on that momentum in 2024. Instead, he’s spent the year battling elbow issues that have limited his development.
The Braves have managed to overcome some pitching injuries this season better than in years past, but they can’t seem to escape the constant concern about keeping their arms healthy. Waldrep represents the kind of young talent they’re counting on to stabilize the rotation moving forward.
If his season is indeed over, Waldrep’s focus shifts to getting his elbow right and preparing for 2025. The Braves will hope they can get their former first-rounder back at full strength next spring, but elbow issues with young pitchers always carry some uncertainty.
It’s been a disappointing year for a pitcher who was supposed to be taking steps toward the big leagues. Now he’ll have to wait until next season to continue that journey.
