Braves Top Prospect Lands On Injured List Instead Of Minor League Demotion
Braves Top Prospect Lands On Injured List Instead Of Minor League Demotion
Making it to the big leagues is hard, but staying in the big leagues is twice as difficult.
One of the Atlanta Braves’ top prospects has learned that already this season.
After making his second (Major League Baseball) start Sunday, Hurston Waldrep, the Braves’ No. 2 prospect according to MLB Pipeline, was reportedly informed he was going to be optioned to Triple-A. Instead, he ended up being placed on the 15-day injured list.
According to Justin Toscano of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Waldrep told the Braves training staff after his start that the inflammation he was experiencing in his elbow was no big deal. He was later informed that he was about to be optioned to Triple-A, at which point he came back and told the trainers he was “more sore than normal.”
The Braves placed Waldrep on the Injured List, which means he will continue to be paid a big-league salary while recovering. Apart from the 15-day mandated absence, the Braves have not indicated any timetable for Waldrep’s return.
Waldrep allowed six earned runs in 3.1 innings on Sunday against the Tampa Bay Rays. The big blow came in the fourth inning when Rays’ catcher Ben Rortvedt launched a grand slam to right field, his first homer of the season. Waldrep’s MLB ERA now sits at 16.71 through two appearances.
Braves manager Brian Snitker praised Waldrep’s abilities after the start but said it was clear the 22-year-old needs time to grow before earning a full-time rotation spot.
“Absolutely he needs more time,” Snitker said postgame on Sunday. “I told him, he’s got stuff, he’s got intangibles, he’s got the whole thing, he just lacks experience.”
The Braves recalled right-hander Daysbel Hernández to take Waldrep’s spot on the active roster. Hernández has yet to allow a run in three appearances this season, and has a 4.05 career ERA in 6.2 innings, all out of the bullpen.
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