Major baseball publication Baseball America releases season finale Atlanta Braves‘farm system. together with naming your best prospectsThey also projected the Braves roster and rotation starting in 2028.

The cast is pretty simple; The roster is the same as now, except for Drake Baldwin replacing Marcell Ozuna as the designated hitter. Everyone else is currently on the active roster. However, the starting rotation and closer are filled with the best prospects available.

Here we will focus more closely. candidate number 3 Hurston Waldrep is projected to be the Braves closer in 2028. It’s interesting that it was expected to come in second place when it received such high ratings. He’s currently a starter at Triple-A, ahead of other top prospects who could beat him: Cam Caminiti and Owen Murphy.

But maybe they’re onto something here. Raisel Iglesias had a fantastic 2024 season. but 34 years oldHe won’t be around much longer. It wouldn’t hurt to check who his successor will be.

Let’s dive into the Braves’ future closer, Hurston Waldrep.

Even in the Braves system, there’s precedent for top prospects getting closer. Craig Kimbrel was the star of the Braves from 2011 to 2014. Entering the 2011 season, Kimbrel The Braves’ No. 4 prospect.

Thus, the possibility of entering the top five could become a very solid approach.

One key difference is that Kimbrel was never a starter at the professional level. He took the field at 126 minor league games and started two of them. So it’s not a perfect example.

However, although it is an extreme case, let’s take a closer look at a famous example of a top starting pitcher prospect. Baseball America brings Hall of Famer closer to Mariano Rivera As candidate number 9 At the New York Yankees farm before the 1995 season.

He was the starting pitcher until his first MLB season in 1996.

For the record, we’re not saying Waldrep will be an all-star or Hall of Famer-bound. But there is precedent that top prospects may come close to closing.

The best pitcher in the modern game will not always be a member of the starting rotation.

The most important feature of Waldrep’s pitching arsenal is his changeup. Baseball America-rated Waldrep had the best turnover among prospects.

He predicted that the burner would have the electrical things it needed. He is seen as perhaps the man whose best performance will come from his ability to go all out for a single shot. There is no need to increase the tempo like a beginner should.

Waldrep was taken by the Braves. first round (24th overall) of the 2023 MLB Draft. In two MLB starts, he gave up 13 earned runs on seven hits pitched. He had a 3.38 ERA in eight starts at the Triple-A level.