Notable baseball publication Baseball America published his latest offseason Atlanta Braves‘the farm system. Along with naming their best prospectsthey also projected the Braves’ lineup and starting rotation in 2028.

The lineup is pretty straightforward, other than catching prospect Drake Baldwin replacing Marcell Ozuna as the designated hitter, the lineup is identical to what it is now. All others are currently on the active list. However, the starting rotation and closer are full of current top prospects.

We will focus here on the closest one. Perspective no. 3 Hurston Waldrep is projected to be the Braves closer in 2028. Interesting that he is expected to be in the bullpen when he is rated so highly. He is currently the starter in Triple-A and ahead of other top prospects who will beat him out: Cam Caminiti and Owen Murphy.

But maybe they have something here. Raisel Iglesias had an excellent 2024 season, but at 34 years oldhe won’t be around much longer. It doesn’t hurt to check who the successor will be.

Let’s delve into Hurston Waldrep as the future Braves closer.

There is precedent for top prospects approaching, even in the Braves system. Craig Kimbrel was the Braves star closer from 2011 to 2014. Entering the 2011 season, Kimbrel was Braves prospect no. 4.

So a top-five pitching prospect can become a solid closer.

A key difference is that Kimbrel was never a rookie at the professional level. He pitched in 126 minor league games and started two of them. So it’s not a perfect example.

However, while it’s an extreme case, let’s look at a famous example of a top receiving prospect turning closer. Baseball America inducted Mariano Rivera into the Hall of Fame as prospectus no. 9 in the New York Yankees farm prior to the 1995 season.

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

For the record, we’re not saying Waldrep will be any closer to the stars or the Hall of Fame. But there is precedent that top prospects can become closing closers.

In the modern game, the best pitcher will not always be a member of the starting rotation.

The highlight of Waldrep’s pitching arsenal is his changeup. Baseball America rated Waldrep as having the best changeup among prospects.

He designed to have electrical stuff, which a loved one needs. Perhaps he is viewed as the guy whose best performance will come from his ability to give it his all for a single innings. He doesn’t need to pace himself like a starter has to.

Waldrep was picked up by the Braves in first round (24th overall) of the 2023 MLB Draft. In his two MLB starts, he has given up 13 earned runs in seven innings pitched. At the Triple-A level, he had a 3.38 ERA in eight starts.