The Atlanta Braves selected Florida Gators right-handed pitcher Hurston Waldrep with the 24th overall pick in the 2023 MLB draft.
There was plenty of buzz heading into the draft regarding where Waldrep would land. His high-speed fastball and patented splitter — which drew swings and misses 70% of the time — gathered loads of attention from MLB scouts.
He began his junior season ranked as the No. 10 MLB draft prospect but fell to the TEAM at pick No. X due to the deep pool of pitching talent in the draft.
Waldrep began his collegiate playing career with the Southern Mississippi Golden Eagles and transferred to Florida after a successful sophomore campaign.
He finished his only season with the Gators one strikeout shy of Alex Faedo’s single-season program record. Waldrep tossed 156 strikeouts and held a 10-3 record on the mound in 2023.
He joins outfielder Wyatt Langford as the two Florida players taken so far in the 2023 MLB draft first round.
Contact Luke Adragna at ladragna@alligator.org. Follow him on Twitter @lukeadrag.
Luke Adragna is a third-year journalism student and the Florida Gators football reporter at The Alligator. He is a cat ethusiast and completes the NYT Daily Mini in less than a minute each day.
