The Atlanta Braves activated middle reliever Tyler Kinley from the paternity list on Friday morning, ahead of their final series of the first half against the St. Louis Cardinals. When Kinley went on the paternity list a few days ago, they shuffled the bullpen around, and after a blowout loss, Victor Mederos was recalled in yet another bullpen shuffle.
However, after Mederos shut down the Pirates in the ninth inning on Thursday, it looks like the Braves wanted to reward him by keeping him on the active roster. Rather than send Mederos back to Triple-A, the Braves opted to send down struggling starter Hurston Waldrep to Gwinnnett.
The #Braves today reinstated RHP Tyler Kinley from the paternity list and optioned RHP Hurston Waldrep to Triple-A Gwinnett.
— Atlanta Braves (@Braves) July 10, 2026
Braves send down struggling starting pitcher Hurston Waldrep
Waldrep was set to start on Sunday, but it's been clear since he returned to the majors at the end of June that he was not ready for major league action. The 24-year-old had missed over two months with bone spurs, and had just begun his rehab at the beginning of June. The Braves had optioned him to Triple-A on June 12, but called him up on June 26 due to Robert Suarez's elbow injury.
Since being recalled, it's been easy to argue that Waldrep was rushed back a little too early. While he didn't allow a run in a two inning relief outing, he also walked four batters and allowed two hits. In his first start against the Cardinals, he allowed three runs, walked a batter, and hit a batter. This start was somewhat promising, due to him limiting his free passes, but it still wasn't close to the success we saw down the stretch last year.
In his most recent start, the command issues once again reared its ugly head. Waldrep issued five free passes and hit a batter in just 3.1 innings pitched. He allowed seven runs and two homers as well. In his three games, Waldrep has an 8.44 ERA and an 8.46 FIP.
Although the Braves could be excused if they allowed him to start one more time before the break, it makes sense to let the young righty reset in Gwinnett, especially with the All-Star break right around the corner.
By optioning Waldrep, the Braves have a full bullpen for the first time in a while. J.R. Ritchie, who is already on the active roster, will start Sunday, and having Kinley back will give the Braves another mid inning option, instead of needing to turn to their long reliever with the game on the line.
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