Braves change plans with pitchers’ rehab assignments

The Atlanta Braves currently have two pitchers on rehab assignments, Huascar Ynoa and Hurston Waldrep. But the Braves have changed where each of those pitchers will continue their assignments Sunday.

David O’Brien of The Athletic wrote on X (formerly Twitter) that Ynoa will continue his rehab at Triple-A Gwinnett while Waldrep will move to Single-A Augusta.

“The Braves have transferred the rehab assignment of pitcher Huascar Ynoa from the FCL Braves to Triple-A Gwinnett, and have transferred the rehab assignment of pitcher Hurston Waldrep from the FCL Braves to Single-A Augusta,” O’Brien wrote.

Waldrep’s move to Single-A comes as no surprise. SI.com’s Harrison Smajovits reported Saturday that Waldrep was set to make a rehab start with the Augusta GreenJackets on Sunday.

“He will make his first rehab start at the Single-A level on the road against the Myrtle Beach Pelicans,” Smajovits wrote.

Much like Spencer Schwellenbach was for the Braves on Saturday when he pitched seven shutout innings against the New York Mets, the return of Ynoa or Waldrep could be a huge boost for Atlanta. The Braves are currently without Max Fried and Spencer Strider in their rotation, with the latter having been out for most of the season and not returning.

MLB Network’s Jon Morosi reported Saturday that Fried would be back “relatively soon.”

Ynoa has not played for the Braves since 2022 due to Tommy John surgery. He has also struggled extensively at the MLB level during his career.

But in 2021, Ynoa struck out 100 batters in 91 innings with the Braves. He also went 4-6 as a starter with a 4.05 ERA and 1.110 WHIP that season.

Waldrep is the No. 2 prospect in the Atlanta organization. The Braves drafted him 24th overall in the first round last year out of the University of Florida.

In two starts with the Braves, Waldrep allowed 13 runs on 9 hits in 7 innings. But in 19 minor league appearances, he posted a 2.60 ERA.