The Braves also suffered injuries among their starting staff, such as the young right-hander Hurston Waldrep was placed on the 15-day injured list due to elbow inflammation, according to a team announcement. That’s right Daysbel Hernandez from Triple-A Gwinnett instead. Atlanta also selected an outfielder JP Martinez to Gwinnett and missed the outfielder Forrest Wall in his place.
Manager Brian Snitker revealed last night that Waldrep will be selected from Gwinnett. However, MLB.com’s Mark Bowman writes on Twitter that Waldrep, 22, then told team staff that his elbow was more sore than usual following his latest start. Now you will join Spencer Strider, AJ Smith-Shawver again Huascar Ynoa on the injured list.
Waldrep, the team’s first-round pick last year, made his MLB debut earlier this month. He has taken the mound twice since being promoted to the majors but was hit hard, giving up 13 runs on nine hits with eight walks and three strikeouts in seven innings. The former Florida Gator standout hasn’t completed four innings in either of his two starts and has issued four free passes in each.
As difficult as it was, Waldrep worked his way through the ranks before being promoted to his position. In 49 1/3 frames for Double-A, he pitched to an excellent 2.92 ERA with a 22.4% strikeout rate and a 7.9% walk rate. The Braves promoted him to Triple-A after that start, where he pitched six innings and allowed three runs — but on just five hits and one walk with 11 strikeouts.
Since he was going to be selected anyway, Waldrep’s injury will not take him out of the MLB rotation. Atlanta will continue to lean Reynaldo Lopez, Chris Sale, Fried Max, Charlie Morton and the rookie Spencer Schwellenbach yet, and there are still quality options at Gwinnett – Bryce Elder mostly. But any elbow problem for a promising young arm is a concern, and Waldrep’s injury also depletes the team’s depth for now.
As for the pitching, Martinez will head to Gwinnett on the back of a 10-game hitting streak with the big league team. Wall will get a look after hitting .287/.393/.415 with four homers and 11 steals for the Stripers. He will replace Martinez as the lefty bat in the outfield mix, giving Snitker more speed off the bench. It is given Adam Duvall‘s woeful .084/.126/.108 slash against other righties — he’s hitting .275/.393/.565 against southpaws — Wall could also see some action against right-handed pitching.
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