Hurston Waldrep’s development continues but Braves’ bullpen melts down in loss

Hurston Waldrep has been a revelation over the past month, to the point that many have penciled into a rotation spot next spring.

Consider his two recent outings further educational experiences. Waldrep has gotten solid bottom-line results, but he’s been a bit more susceptible to erratic command. These types of appearances are necessary in his growth.

“It’s not going to be smooth sailing all the time,” manager Brian Snitker said.

Like his past start, Waldrep limited the opposition Saturday, holding the Mariners to two runs in the Braves’ 10-2 loss at Truist Park. But he issued five walks, bringing the total to nine bases on balls in his past two games (10-2/3 innings).

That was a theme earlier in the minor-league season before Waldrep adjusted. In a stretch as recent as June 3 through July 5, Waldrep walked 18 hitters in 28 innings. He’d issued only seven walks over his first five MLB starts since being recalled in early August (30 innings).

Now, he’ll have a few more chances to adjust at the higher level. Waldrep had a mature assessment of his recent performances, also acknowledging the postseason-caliber lineups he’d faced in the Phillies and Mariners, and how these opportunities will benefit him moving forward.

“It’s definitely going to help me learn to build the arsenal that we already built, but to continue to develop it here at this level,” he said. “There’s a lot of things you get away with at lower levels that we’re not going to get away with here. You’re going to see different approaches and I think that’s what we saw (Saturday).

“We saw a really good playoff team that has a really good approach and they stuck to it. They have really mature hitters top to bottom, there’s not a break in the lineup. They stuck to it. They made me work. You see that in the five walks. A couple of those walks were lead-off walks. A couple were either 1-2 or 0-2 and I ended up working myself into a hole. That was the story (Saturday).”

The overall body of work is still impressive: Waldrep lowered his ERA to 1.33 in 40-2/3 innings. He’s handled himself well in dangerous spots. Despite his spotty command Saturday, the only damage came on Julio Rodriguez’s two-run shot in the first inning. He surrendered only one other hit.

“He probably felt like he didn’t throw great, but he left in a 2-1 game,” Snitker said. “That’s pretty impressive for a young guy not to cave in. I could tell he got a little frustrated with himself, but guys with stuff, as long as they keep pitching they have a chance to get out of the inning and minimize damage.”

Waldrep has given the Braves a legitimate chance in each outing. That’s major progress for the youngster, whom Snitker admitted the Braves promoted too early as he struggled during two starts last year.

Today, he’s assembled a breakout second half that has the Braves and their fans giddy over his future prospects.