Former Florida P Hurston Waldrep picks up first MLB win in Atlanta’s Speedway Classic victory
By Andrew Olson
Published:
Former Florida pitcher Hurston Waldrep was supposed to be pitching a Triple-A game on Sunday. Instead, he got his first MLB win.
The MLB’s “Speedway Classic” between the Atlanta Braves and Cincinnati Reds at Bristol Motor Speedway was scheduled for Saturday, but the game was postponed in the bottom of the 1st inning after multiple weather delays. Atlanta scratched planned Saturday starter Spencer Strider in the first weather delay and turned to Austin Cox for an emergency start. The club decided to go with Waldrep on Sunday.
Sunday served as Waldrep’s 2025 debut with the big-league club. He made 2 appearances with the Braves in 2024, but struggled. He was much more effective on Sunday.
In what was officially a relief appearance, Waldrep tossed 5.2 innings, allowing just 1 run on 3 hits and 2 walks, striking out 4. Thanks to a pair of home runs from Eli White, the Braves held on for a 4-2 victory over the Reds, making Waldrep the game’s winning pitcher.
First career MLB victory.
— Florida Gators Baseball (@GatorsBB) August 3, 2025
First MLB pitcher to win in Tennessee.
History for @HurstonWaldrep at Bristol pic.twitter.com/wcmgyqbOev
Waldrep, 23, is in his 3rd year professionally. He was taken No. 24 overall in the 1st round of the 2023 MLB Draft by the Braves after helping the Gators reach the College World Series Finals.
With his strong showing Sunday, Waldrep appears likely to spend more time in Atlanta to help a Braves pitching staff that has been hit hard by the injury bug.
Andrew writes about sports to fund his love of live music and collection of concert posters. He strongly endorses the Hall of Fame campaigns of Fred Taylor and Andruw Jones.
