Atlanta Braves fans have found a reason to tune in once again with the surprise emergence of young starter Hurston Waldrep. The video game numbers the starter is putting up continue to be the highlight of what has been an incredibly tough few weeks of the 2025 season. Waldrep is 3-0 with a 1.02 ERA and is coming off 7.0 innings of shutout ball against the Chicago White Sox. This is the same AL bottomfeeder that just roughed up Spencer Strider and the Atlanta pen two games prior.
The emergence of Waldrep isn't just about the jaw dropping numbers or the fun it brings to a lost season. It is the hope that perhaps this core still has the needed pieces to make a 2026 run. If the rotation can manage to return to health and Atlanta's front office will make the needed middle infield and bullpen improvements, this still has the makings of a postseason contender.
Waldrep overnight changes your potential expectations with Chris Sale and Spencer Schwellenbach both expected to have no lasting issues into the 2026 season. Suddenly, you have the potential of a truly elite trio sitting atop the rotation. This overlooks Strider, who has given every reason to believe he can still put this season's struggles behind him.
Braves Starter Hurston Waldrep Highlighting Atlanta's Bright Future
Add in Grant Holmes and Reynaldo Lopez, and the Braves' rotation can match up with anyone in the league when healthy. Waldrep gives hope that better days are ahead for a franchise whose recent run of NL East dominance has come to a frustrating end. Atlanta's front office must take this seriously and understand the potential of this group.
Pouring money into the bullpen and finding viable offensive options in the middle infield. The rest will sort itself out with Jurickson Profar and Michael Harris both returning to form at the end of the season. Braves fans are getting a glimpse of how this offense is supposed to look. Add in the exciting emergence of Waldrep, and Atlanta would be a healthy roster and a handful of pieces away from returning to serious contention.
For Waldrep, the numbers are unlikely to be maintained at this level. However, there is no denying the talent or the fact that the starter's stuff makes dominating maintainable through the end of the season and into 2026. It is a rare great story in what has been a dumpster fire of a season.