100+1⁄3 innings. [5]
Following the season's end, he was selected by the Cleveland Indians in the 18th round of the 2019 Major League Baseball draft. [6] [7]
Waldron signed with the Indians and made his professional debut with the rookie–level Arizona League Indians before he was promoted to the Low–A Mahoning Valley Scrappers. Over 45+2⁄3 innings between the two teams, he went 4–0 with a 2.96 ERA. [8] He did not play a minor league game in 2020 due to the cancellation of the minor league season because of the COVID-19 pandemic. [9]
On August 31, 2020, the Indians traded Waldron, Mike Clevinger, and Greg Allen to the San Diego Padres in exchange for Austin Hedges, Josh Naylor, Cal Quantrill, Gabriel Arias, Owen Miller, and Joey Cantillo. [10] Prior to the 2021 season, Waldron began throwing knuckleballs. [11] He opened the 2021 season with the High–A Fort Wayne TinCaps and was promoted to the Double–A San Antonio Missions in July. [12] He finished the season starting twenty games going 3–8 with a 4.25 ERA and 103 strikeouts over 103+2⁄3 innings. [13]
Waldron returned to San Antonio to begin 2022 and was promoted to the Triple–A El Paso Chihuahuas in late June. [14] Over 25 starts between the two teams, he went 5–10 with a 6.26 ERA and 96 strikeouts over 113+2⁄3 innings. [15] To open the 2023 season, he was assigned to El Paso. [16] In 14 games (12 starts), Waldron struggled to a 1–6 record and 7.02 ERA with 75 strikeouts in 66+2⁄3 innings pitched. [17]
On June 23, 2023, the Padres announced they would be promoting Waldron to make his major league debut the next day as the team's starting pitcher. [18] He made his debut at Petco Park against the Washington Nationals. Waldron pitched 4+2⁄3 innings, allowing four hits and two runs (both earned), while striking out two Nationals batters in a 2–0 loss. He was the first pitcher to throw a knuckleball in a major league game since Baltimore Orioles’ pitcher Mickey Jannis in June 2021. [18] He was optioned back to El Paso the next day. [19]
Waldron was recalled to the majors several times throughout the remainder of the 2023 season, making eight appearances (six starts) going 1–3 with a 4.35 ERA and 31 strikeouts over 41+1⁄3 innings. [20]
Unlike other recent knuckleball pitchers like R. A. Dickey and Tim Wakefield—both of whom relied heavily on throwing knuckleballs—Waldron's primary pitch is a four-seam fastball. His off-speed pitches are a slider and a knuckleball. [11]
Waldron's twin brother, Mike, also played on the Nebraska baseball team. [21]
| Matt Waldron | |
|---|---|
| San Diego Padres – No. 61 | |
| Pitcher | |
| Born:September 26, 1996 Omaha, Nebraska, U.S. | |
Bats: Right Throws: Right | |
| MLB debut | |
| June 24, 2023, for the San Diego Padres |
San Diego Padres current roster | |
|---|---|
| Active roster |
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| Restricted list |
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| Coaching staff |
|