After his phenomenal 5 2/3 innings performance on August 2nd in the MLB Speedway Classic against the Cincinnati, former Florida Gator Hurston Waldrep was sent back down to Triple-A Gwinnett on August 4th before being recalled just five days later on August 9th. He has appeared in two more games since then, both of which he’s continued to absolutely dominate on the mound as he is finding his stride.
Waldrep, on August 9th, threw six innings against the Miami Marlins, giving up just one earned run on four hits, walking one, and striking out six. He threw 89 pitches (61 for strikes).
He returned to the hill on Friday night against the Cleveland Guardians, pitching six shutout innings in which he gave up just two hits, walked two, and struck out seven. He threw 95 total pitches (55 of which were strikes).
Accumulated this season, Waldrep is 3-0 (with the Braves winning each game he has started) with a 1.02 ERA. Over the course of 17 2/3 innings, he has given up just two earned runs on nine hits, walked five, and struck out 17. Opposing batters are hitting just .150 against him, and he has a WHIP of 0.79 over the course of those three outings (one long relief appearance and two starts). He has thrown 259 pitches, 161 of which have been strikes.
Hurston Waldrep was fired up after getting Kyle Manzardo to strike out in what likely his final hitter of the night.
— Henry Palattella (@HellaPalattella) August 16, 2025
His line: 6 IP, 2 H, 2 BB, 7 K pic.twitter.com/xQDtLr4T9c
“He’s a different guy than what I remember last year,” said Braves manager Brian Snitker to MLB.com’s Henry Palattella after the Braves’ Friday night win over the Guardians. “His splitter is a weapon, and now that he’s using his other stuff it’s even better. What he’s doing is impressive,” said Snitker.”
Hurston Waldrep, Filthy Splitters. 😷
— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) August 16, 2025
7th Ks thru 6 pic.twitter.com/M8IK0SgH6P
Waldrep also spoke with the media and Palattella after the game.
“We realized the cutter was going to play well to lefties,” he said. “And then my slider came in late, it was really nice to break that out there at the end,” he stated.
Former #Gators pitcher Hurston Waldrep is KILLING it for #BravesCountry .
— InAllKindsOfWeather.com (@AllKindsWeather) August 16, 2025
He’s appeared in three games; the Braves won all three. 17.2 IP, 9 H, 2 R, 17 K, 5 BB. A composite ERA of 1.02.
And that wipeout slider of his is as nasty as ever. #GatorsInTheMLB pic.twitter.com/MNNfTBNvwv
Waldrep is expected to remain in the big leagues and according to Snitker in his postgame press conference, he hopes to keep the former Gator in the rotation for the foreseeable future.