Hurston Waldrep Bio
Hurston Wayne Waldrep is an American professional baseball pitcher for the Atlanta Braves of Major League Baseball (MLB). Born on March 1, 2002, Waldrep developed his athletic talents at Thomasville High School in Thomasville, Georgia, where he excelled on both the baseball diamond and football field. After going undrafted in the 2020 MLB Draft, he rebuilt his profile at the college level, first at the University of Southern Mississippi and later at the University of Florida, where he established himself as one of the top prospects in the country. The Atlanta Braves selected Waldrep with the 24th overall pick in the first round of the 2023 MLB Draft. He made his MLB debut in June 2024 and quickly became a notable part of the Braves organization, recording his first career win in August 2025 in historic fashion. Waldrep wears number 64 for the Braves.
Early Life and Background
Waldrep grew up in Thomasville, Georgia, where he attended Thomasville High School. At Thomasville High School, he distinguished himself as a dual-sport athlete, playing baseball as a pitcher and competing in football as both a placekicker and punter. His exceptional performance in high school earned him All-State honors in both sports, signaling his potential as a high-level collegiate and professional athlete.
Despite his success at the high school level, Waldrep did not hear his name called during the shortened 2020 MLB Draft. Rather than pursuing other opportunities, he decided to continue his baseball development at the collegiate rank, enrolling at the University of Southern Mississippi to play for their baseball program, the Southern Mississippi Golden Eagles.
Path to Professional Baseball
Waldrep began his college baseball career at the University of Southern Mississippi during the 2021 season. As a freshman for the Southern Mississippi Golden Eagles, he pitched primarily in relief, appearing in over 16 innings with a 1-0 win-loss record, a 3.31 earned run average, and 16 strikeouts. His performance showed promise, and the coaching staff decided to transition him into a starting role for the following season.
For the 2022 season, Waldrep became Southern Mississippi’s Sunday starter and showcased his full potential on the mound. Across 17 starts, he posted a 6-2 record with a 3.20 earned run average, 140 strikeouts, and 33 walks over 90 innings pitched. These impressive numbers drew significant attention from MLB scouts and positioned him as a legitimate professional prospect.
Following the 2022 season, Waldrep entered the transfer portal and ultimately transferred to the University of Florida to play for the Florida Gators. That summer, he also represented the United States by playing for the USA Baseball Collegiate National Team, further elevating his profile. Entering the 2023 season as one of the top prospects for the upcoming MLB Draft, Waldrep started 19 games for the Florida Gators and went 10-3 with a 4.16 earned run average and 156 strikeouts over 101 and two-thirds innings. His standout collegiate career culminated in being selected by the Atlanta Braves in the first round of the 2023 MLB Draft.
Hurston Waldrep Career
Professional Debut and Minor League Ascent (2023)
The Atlanta Braves selected Waldrep with the 24th overall pick in the 2023 MLB Draft. He signed with the organization on July 13, 2023, for a deal worth $2,997,500. He began his professional career with the Single-A Augusta GreenJackets, where he made an immediate impact by striking out eight batters in a single three-inning start. His dominant performance earned him a promotion to the High-A Rome Braves, where he continued to impress by recording 17 strikeouts over 12 innings pitched.
Waldrep’s rapid progression through the minor leagues continued as he was promoted to the Double-A Mississippi Braves. With Mississippi, he maintained his strong pitching, recording an impressive 2.70 earned run average with 11 strikeouts over 10 innings. His rapid ascent through the farm system culminated on September 23, 2023, when he made his first appearance at the Triple-A level with the Gwinnett Stripers. In that outing, Waldrep recorded five strikeouts over four scoreless innings, demonstrating his readiness for higher levels of competition.
Major League Debut and 2024 Season
Prior to the 2024 regular season, Waldrep received an invitation to spring training with the Atlanta Braves, an indication of the organization’s confidence in his abilities. He began the 2024 season at Double-A Mississippi and continued to refine his craft. On June 1, 2024, the Braves promoted him to Triple-A Gwinnett, bringing him one step away from the major leagues. Throughout the 2024 minor league season, Waldrep made a total of 19 starts and went 5-7 with a 3.47 earned run average and 92 strikeouts over 91 and two-thirds innings.
On June 9, 2024, Waldrep was selected to the Braves’ 40-man roster and promoted to the major leagues for the first time. He made his MLB debut that same day against the Washington Nationals. In his debut, Waldrep struggled with command issues, allowing seven runs on four hits and four walks while recording just one strikeout, that of Eddie Rosario, in an 8-5 Braves loss. Across two starts during his rookie campaign, Waldrep went 0-1 with a 16.71 earned run average and three strikeouts over seven innings of work. He was optioned back to Triple-A Gwinnett to begin the 2025 season.
Breakthrough Season (2025)
Waldrep spent the majority of the 2025 season at Triple-A Gwinnett, where he started 19 games and went 7-8 with a 4.42 earned run average. The Braves recalled Waldrep to the major leagues on August 3, 2025. That same day, he earned his first career MLB win in historic fashion during the Speedway Classic versus the Cincinnati Reds in a 4-2 Braves victory. Waldrep pitched five and two-thirds innings and gave up just one run. Notably, he was scheduled to start for Gwinnett that day but was temporarily promoted as Atlanta’s 27th man when the Speedway Classic was suspended due to rain the previous day.
This victory carried significant historical weight. Waldrep became the first pitcher credited with a win in the state of Tennessee in MLB history. It was also the first MLB win by a Thomasville-based pitcher since Levale Speigner achieved the feat in 2007. Following this breakthrough performance, Waldrep remained with the major league club and turned in an outstanding stretch. Across ten games, including nine starts, for the Braves during the remainder of the 2025 season, he went 6-1 with a 2.88 earned run average and 55 strikeouts over 56 and one-third innings of work.
Driving Style and Strengths
Waldrep’s pitching arsenal has drawn particular attention for the quality of his splitter, which has been a hallmark of his development as a prospect. This offering gives him an effective swing-and-miss weapon that complements his other pitches and makes him particularly effective against opposing hitters when he is able to command it properly.
Notable Events and Milestones
Waldrep’s first career win on August 3, 2025, at the Speedway Classic stands as the defining moment of his early career thus far. Becoming the first pitcher ever to record a win in Tennessee represents a historic milestone that few players achieve in their professional careers. His performance after joining the Braves’ major league rotation in August 2025 demonstrated his potential, as he posted a 6-1 record with an impressive 2.88 earned run average over the season’s final months.
Hurston Waldrep Career Wins
Through June 26, 2026, Waldrep has compiled a 6-2 win-loss record with a 4.27 earned run average and 61 strikeouts across his MLB career with the Atlanta Braves. His professional career began with rapid advancement through four minor league levels in 2023 before reaching the major leagues in June 2024.
Major League Baseball Highlights
Waldrep’s most significant MLB achievement to date came on August 3, 2025, when he earned his first career win against the Cincinnati Reds at the Speedway Classic. This win was historic, as it marked the first time a pitcher was credited with a win in Tennessee and the first such win by a Thomasville-based pitcher since 2007. Following this milestone, Waldrep established himself as an effective contributor for the Braves, posting a remarkable 6-1 record with a 2.88 earned run average across his ten appearances after the All-Star break.
Minor League Career
Prior to his MLB success, Waldrep moved rapidly through the Braves’ minor league system. After signing following the 2023 Draft, he dominated at three levels including Augusta GreenJackets (Single-A), Rome Braves (High-A), and Mississippi Braves (Double-A) before making his Triple-A debut with the Gwinnett Stripers in September 2023. Throughout his minor league career, Waldrep has consistently demonstrated the ability to record high strikeout numbers while maintaining solid earned run averages.
| Series | Wins | Losses | ERA |
|---|---|---|---|
| MLB (2024-2026) | 6 | 2 | 4.27 |
Hurston Waldrep Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Limited verified information is available regarding Waldrep’s family background. His family has ties to Thomasville, Georgia, as evidenced by the historical significance of his first MLB win being the first by a Thomasville-based pitcher since 2007.
Personal Life
Waldrep maintains a primary residence associated with his professional baseball career. Beyond his athletic pursuits, public details regarding his personal life, relationships, or family remain limited.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 season represented a breakthrough year for Waldrep at the major league level. After beginning the year at Triple-A Gwinnett, where he went 7-8 with a 4.42 earned run average across 19 starts, Waldrep received a recall to Atlanta in August. His debut major league win on August 3 against the Cincinnati Reds provided a defining moment that seemed to unlock his confidence at the highest level. The win was particularly meaningful given that he became the first pitcher to ever record a win in the state of Tennessee during an MLB game.
Following his historic first win, Waldrep became a reliable contributor to the Braves’ pitching staff. Across ten games including nine starts, he posted a 6-1 record with a stellar 2.88 earned run average and 55 strikeouts over 56 and one-third innings. His performance positioned him as a potential building block for the Braves’ future pitching rotation.
Heading into the 2026 season, Waldrep faced a setback when preliminary tests during spring training in February revealed elbow soreness with loose bodies present in his pitching elbow. Reports confirmed that he would need to undergo surgery to remove the loose bodies. He was optioned to Triple-A Gwinnett upon being activated from the injured list on June 12, 2026, as he worked his way back to full health and major league readiness.