MLB Draft: Braves Make Waldrep UF’s Second First-Rounder of 2023
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Florida right-hander Hurston Waldrep was the second Gator to have his name called at the 2023 MLB Draft, as the Atlanta Braves selected him with the 24th overall pick of the first round on Sunday night.
Waldrep is Florida's second first-rounder within the initial 24 picks, as teammate Wyatt Langford went fourth overall to the Texas Rangers. The hard-throwing righty is now the 19th first-round draft pick in program history (25th including the post-draft secondary phase) and 13th since Head Coach Kevin O'Sullivan's 2008 arrival, which ranks second nationally. In being chosen 24th by Atlanta, Waldrep is the 11th-highest player to be drafted in team history including the sixth-highest pitcher out of 217 individual draft picks all-time. The Thomasville, Ga. native is also the ninth-highest selection across 101 draft picks in the O'Sullivan Era and the 21st UF pitcher to be taken in the first five rounds since 2008. Transferring to Florida from Southern Miss last offseason, Waldrep came within one strikeout of tying Alex Faedo's single-season record in 2023 by fanning 156 batters across 101 2/3 innings. The right-hander finished with a 10-3 record, 4.16 ERA and .228 batting average against in 19 weekend starts in his lone season in Orange & Blue. That performance earned him Second Team All-America honors from D1Baseball. Running List of Florida's 2023 MLB Draft PicksOF Wyatt Langford – Round 1, Pick 4 (Texas Rangers)RHP Hurston Waldrep – Round 1, Pick 24 (Atlanta Braves)
