Alright, let’s jaw about this Hurston Waldrep fella. He’s a young’un, plays that baseball game. Folks are talkin’ ’bout him, so I reckon he must be somethin’ special. They say he’s got that “potential,” like a good ol’ field before the weeds take over.
Hurston Waldrep: A Young Pitcher Comin’ Up
Now, I ain’t no fancy baseball expert, mind you. But I hear tell this boy, Hurston Waldrep, he’s been climbin’ the ranks faster than a squirrel up a pecan tree. Started way down there in somethin’ called “Single-A,” then zoomed right through “High-A,” “Double-A” and even got to “Triple-A.” That’s a lot of letters, but it means he’s gettin’ better and better, like a good pot of collard greens simmerin’ on the stove.
They say he’s a pitcher. That means he throws the ball, see? And he throws it hard, I guess. Fast as a chicken hawk divin’ for a field mouse. People get all excited ’bout these young fellas throwin’ fastballs. Reminds me of my grandson tryin’ to throw rocks across the creek, bless his heart.
- He went to Thomasville High School, in Georgia. That’s down yonder, not too far from where I used to live. Good folks down there, grow some fine peanuts.
- Seems like just last year he was helpin’ them Florida Gators play in some big college game. Heard it was a real nail-biter, down to the wire like my old clock that keeps on tickin’ even when it’s runnin’ late.
What they’re sayin’ ’bout his future
Now, some folks who know a heap more than me about baseball, they’re makin’ predictions. They’re sayin’ he might win a game or two for the Atlanta team this year, maybe lose one too. They’re talkin’ ‘bout his “ERA,” whatever that is. Sounds like some kind of doctor’s report to me. And they say he’ll strike out a bunch of batters, but walk a few too. Well, nobody’s perfect, not even my prize-winning pumpkin pie.
They figure he’ll pitch for about 45 “innings.” That’s like… chapters in a baseball game, I reckon. And they expect him to have a 4.25 ERA. I don’t rightly know if that’s good or bad, but it sounds like a number they like to talk about. And they’re sayin’ he might get 42 strikeouts and 17 walks. Strikeouts are good, walks are bad, that much I understand. It’s like gettin’ your chores done versus lettin’ ’em pile up on the porch.
Just a Good Ol’ Boy Playin’ Ball
So, this Hurston Waldrep, he’s just a young fella tryin’ to make his way in the world, playin’ a game he loves. Reminds me of my own kids, always out in the fields, chasin’ after somethin’. He’s got a lot of hard work ahead of him, that’s for sure. But if he keeps his nose to the grindstone and listens to his coaches, he might just make somethin’ of himself.
He’s a pitcher, so that means he has to throw the ball real well. It’s not like just throwing rocks at cans in the backyard, I tell you that. There’s a lot of fancy stuff that goes into it, and it sounds like this young’un is learning fast. He’s climbn’ up that ladder, gettin’ closer to the big show every day.
And folks are watchin’ him, see? They’re lookin’ to see if he can handle the pressure, if he can stand up there on that mound with all those eyes on him and throw that ball like he means it. It’s a tough job, no doubt about it. But he seems like a good kid, and he’s got the talent. Now, all he has to do is keep workin’ hard, stay outta trouble and maybe he can become a big star one day, just like them fellas you see on TV. I do hope he remembers to eat his vegetables and get a good night’s sleep, though. That’s mighty important, no matter what you do. That boy needs to keep his strength up if he’s goin’ to be throwin’ baseballs all day long. Bless his heart.
Tags: [Hurston Waldrep, Atlanta Braves, Pitcher, Baseball, MLB, Prospects, Thomasville High School, Florida Gators]
