The Atlanta Braves’ pitching depth just took a hit - and it’s not the kind you want this close to Spring Training. Promising right-hander Hurston Waldrep experienced elbow discomfort during a recent batting practice session, and subsequent imaging revealed "loose bodies" in the joint.
The good news? There’s no ligament damage.
The bad news? A procedure still seems likely.
Manager Walt Weiss addressed the situation, confirming that Waldrep will meet with doctors on Monday to determine the next steps. While the Braves haven’t officially announced a timetable, the expectation is that Waldrep may need a cleanup procedure - something minor, but still enough to delay his ramp-up.
It’s a tough break for a pitcher who turned heads late last season. Waldrep made an impression after joining the Braves’ rotation in August 2025, showing the kind of stuff that made him one of the organization’s top pitching prospects. His fastball-slider combo played well against big-league hitters, and he looked poised to push for a full-time role in 2026.
Still, roster dynamics were always going to play a role in how Atlanta handled Waldrep to start the season. With pitchers like Bryce Elder, Grant Holmes, and Joey Wentz out of options, the Braves had incentive to preserve flexibility by stashing Waldrep in Triple-A - at least temporarily. That plan may now be a necessity rather than a strategic choice.
The Braves are no strangers to navigating injuries in the rotation, but losing Waldrep, even for a short stretch, adds another wrinkle to their early-season pitching plans. They’ll likely lean on their depth - and they have some - but this is a reminder of how fragile even the most promising young arms can be.