Braves Rumors: Top pick Hurston Waldrep promoted after one start
When the Braves selected Hurston Waldrep out of Florida, it was expected that he would make his way up the minor-league ranks quickly. Lo and behold, after just one start with Augusta, Atlanta has promoted Waldrep to High-A Rome. It turns out they under-estimated their ace in the making.
Waldrep had a strong start in Low-A Augusta, which doesn't really compare to life in the SEC. Alex Anthopoulos and the Braves front office is all about challenging their prospects so they can grow into their potential. Waldrep will likely spend a significant amount of time in Rome as he adjusts to facing better hitters on a regular basis.
Waldrep went to high school in Georgia before attending Florida for his collegiate play. He was the third-ranked college pitcher in the 2023 draft class. While Waldrep has a relatively simple windup, due to the movement on his pitches he does have some control issues. In Rome, he'll be forced to stay in the strike zone, which should help correct some of that inconsistency.
Still, despite those control issues, MLB Pipeline sees a bright future for the former Gator:
"The right-hander has a legitimate three-pitch power mix, with all three offerings having the potential to be at least above-average. He was 95-99 mph in his looks this fall and that's carried over this spring, though he's struggled to command the heater at times. His best secondary offering is his split-change, a well-above-average pitch that misses an extraordinary amount of bats. His hard upper-80s slider also flashes plus and can be an out pitch."
That baseline movement, as well as his three-pitch mix, gives Atlanta's development staff plenty to work with.
Braves Rumors: A.J. Smith-Shawver, Vaughn Grissom promotions looming?
Earlier this week I wrote an article detailing three prospects Atlanta should call up before September. A.J. Smith-Shawver and Vaughn Grissom were both on that list, and both performed admirably in Gwinnett's latest win over the Charlotte Knights. Grissom went 2-for-3 with an RBI and two walks, while Smith-Shawver gave up just three runs in six innings of work.
Smith-Shawver arguably has a place on the Atlanta roster when it does expand come September, as the Braves will need some pitching depth. Whether they use him as a starter or relief pitcher remains in question, but he's too talented to keep in Gwinnett when he can help the big-league squad right now. As I noted in my piece, it's smart for Anthopoulos and Snitker to be cautious with Smith-Shawver, who is a major piece of Atlanta's future. He's expected to start next season on the big-league roster barring a setback in spring training.
As for Grissom, that's a bit more complicated. Grissom was thought to be a major trade piece for the Braves around the deadline, but they opted to hold onto him in the end. Grissom's bat is MLB-ready, but he struggles defensively. Atlanta traded for middle infielder Nicky Lopez at the deadline, which puts Grissom's looming spot on the big-league roster in question. Does Alex Anthopoulos view him as a depth piece, or will he stay in Gwinnett to receive regular reps at shortstop or elsewhere?
Braves Rumors: Is a Marcell Ozuna trade on the horizon?
Marcell Ozuna's had a nice bounceback season seemingly out of nowhere. Ozuna was a DFA candidate for the Braves early in the season, but Alex Anthopoulos stuck with him despite off-field concerns and what (at the time) looked like a bad contract. Yet, Ozuna has remained steady, slashing 235/.311/.468 with 23 home runs on the season. Ozuna serves primarily as a DH, but he can play some corner outfield if called upon.
If Alex Anthopoulos is so inclined, he can do the unthinkable and trade Ozuna when his value is highest. Few pundits thought he'd be a hot commodity at this point in his career, but the free-agent market doesn't offer many big bats. FanSided's Josh Wilson theorized a potential offseason trade earlier this week:
"Ozuna has one year left on his current contract for $18 million, with a team option in 2025 for $16 million. Even though Ozuna comes with some baggage, both on and off the field, teams in desperate need of some designated hitting help could be persuaded into taking that final year off the Braves hands in a trade, risk associated and all.
If Ozuna keeps raking it as he has this season, though, it might not even take that much convincing."
All of a sudden, Ozuna's contract doesn't look so bad. He has two years of control left, and assuming he can provide similar power as he has in 2023, Ozuna could be a valuable asset for a team on the rise.
Of course, this being Alex Anthopoulos, he'll want something valuable in return.
