The Atlanta Braves are calling up pitcher Hurston Waldrep, the team’s first-round pick in the 2023 draft, to make his major league debut today against the Washington Nationals.
Waldrep will start the finale of the four-game series, pushing left-hander Max Fried back to the opener of a three-game set at Baltimore on Tuesday night.
“It’s just like we’ve been doing all year, just giving guys extra days,” Braves manager Brian Snitker said. “He’d been throwing the ball pretty well. It was his time to throw.”
Waldrep, a Thomasville, Georgia native, was the No. 24 pick in last year’s draft after playing two seasons at Southern Mississippi and one at Florida. He is 3-5 with a 3.09 ERA in 10 starts between Double-A Mississippi and Triple-A Gwinnett this year.
“I grew up a Braves fan,” Waldrep said. “Just being able to put this uniform on, it will mean a lot.”
The right-hander will be the fourth player selected in last year’s first round to make his big league debut, joining Pittsburgh pitcher Paul Skenes (first overall), Texas outfielder Wyatt Langford (fourth) and Angels first baseman Nolan Schanuel (11th).
Soto misses second straight
Juan Soto remained out of the New York Yankees’ starting lineup Saturday night against the Dodgers because of left elbow inflammation.
The star right fielder missed his first game of the season Friday night in the series opener after being removed from Thursday’s game versus Minnesota with forearm discomfort. A scan showed only inflammation, which Soto called “a relief,” and he is day to day.
Senga out until after break
New York Mets pitcher Kodai Senga won’t make his season debut until after the All-Star break, manager Carlos Mendoza said Saturday.
“That’s fair to say,” Mendoza said in response to a question about the right-hander’s rehab timeline.
The 31-year-old Senga has been sidelined by a capsule strain in his pitching shoulder. But he has started long-tossing.
Senga went 12-7 with a 2.98 ERA in 29 starts last year, making the NL All-Star team during his first season in the majors after arriving from Japan. He struck out 202 in 166 1/3 innings.