Braves’ Rotation Further Strained as Hurston Waldrep Faces Potential Surgery
NORTH PORT, Fla. – The Atlanta Braves’ starting rotation has suffered another setback, as right-hander Hurston Waldrep may require surgery to address “loose bodies” found in his arm, manager Walt Weiss said Sunday. The news comes just days after Spencer Schwellenbach was placed on the 60-day injured list with an elbow issue.
Waldrep, 23, reported discomfort after a batting practice session. An MRI ruled out ligament damage, but further testing is planned to determine the extent of the problem and whether surgery is necessary, Weiss explained. “There’s some things in there that shouldn’t be there, I guess,” Weiss said. “I think it’s fairly common with pitchers. I don’t want to elaborate on the loose bodies because I’m not totally sure, but probably needs to be dealt with. I don’t know what that looks like as far as a procedure or anything like that.”
The potential loss of Waldrep represents a significant blow to the Braves’ pitching plans. He was expected to compete for the No. 5 spot in the rotation and had impressed in limited action last season, posting a 6-1 record with a 2.88 ERA in 10 games, including nine starts. Weiss described Waldrep as a “young kid with a really promising future,” noting that the pitcher recently reached 99 mph with his fastball during a bullpen session.
This represents the second significant injury to a Braves starting pitcher in the last five days. Schwellenbach, who was also expected to be a key part of the rotation, was sidelined Tuesday with inflammation in his right elbow. Schwellenbach’s 2025 season was already cut short by a broken elbow.
The Braves’ current pitching staff includes Chris Sale, Spencer Strider, Reynaldo López, Grant Holmes, Joey Wentz, Bryce Elder and Martín Pérez. General manager Alex Anthopoulos has acknowledged the need to add pitching depth, particularly a starter capable of contributing during the postseason. “We know it needs to be dealt with somehow, some way, but we just don’t know the extent of it right now,” Weiss said.
Weiss added that Waldrep had been performing well in camp leading up to the discomfort. “He’s a young kid with a really promising future,” Weiss reiterated. “I mean the other day he opened up some eyes, you know, popping 99 (mph) right out of the gate. He threw several bullpens before he got down here. I think he’s had seven or eight bullpens, no issues. So sometimes it’s hard to retrace your steps and explain some of these things. But it’s all part of it.”
