Waldrep setting the minor league ablaze

Sep. 8—THOMASVILLE — It's not a surprise that former Thomasville Bulldog Hurston Waldrep has had great success in the Atlanta Braves minor league system. What might surprise some though is his meteoric rise through the ranks.

Waldrep started in low-A ball, jumping the rookie league. He played just one game in Augusta before being moved to the high-A Rome Braves. He played three games in Rome before being moved up to AA in Pearl, Mississippi. He has played one game so far for the Mississippi Braves, but he may move up soon.

There are plenty of minor leaguers who have the talent to play in the major's, but are not able to make the jump as quickly as Waldrep. His minor league stats prove that he will be pitching in Atlanta sooner rather than later.

In just five games in the minors, he has racked up 29 Ks in 18 innings pitched, while only allowing 9 hits and 5 runs. Waldrep is yet another special talent on the mound that the Braves are just waiting to add to an already stacked bullpen.

While it is possible, it is unlikely that Waldrep will suit up for Atlanta this year. The post-season is rapidly approaching and the Braves would probably like to keep some consistency in their bullpen as they gear up for another run at the World Series.

However, there is no doubt that the Thomasville native will be an Atlanta Brave. Waldrep has been on the Braves' radar since high school and would have been drafted by the organization out of high school, had it not been for COVID. Instead, his incredible college career that started in Hattiesburg, Mississippi and ended with a College World Series appearance for Florida impressed MLB scouts enough to move him into the list of top prospects.

Now the Thomasville legend is just waiting for a call from the big leagues, and it won't be long.