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Matt Waldron

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Matt Waldron
San Diego Padres – No. 61
Pitcher
Born: (1996-09-26) September 26, 1996 (age 28)
Omaha, Nebraska, U.S.
Bats: Right
Throws: Right
MLB debut
June 24, 2023, for the San Diego Padres
MLB statistics
(through August 16, 2024)
Win–loss record8–13
Earned run average4.31
Strikeouts158
Teams

Matthew Lawrence Waldron (born September 26, 1996) is an American professional baseball pitcher for the San Diego Padres of Major League Baseball (MLB). He made his MLB debut in 2023.

Career

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Amateur

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Waldron attended Westside High School in Omaha, Nebraska, where he played on their baseball team and went 9–0 with a 1.29 ERA, 82 strikeouts, and seven walks over 65 innings as a senior in 2015.[1][2] He threw a no-hitter in the Class A Baseball State Championship, helping lead Westside to their third straight title.[3] He went unselected in the 2015 Major League Baseball draft, and enrolled at the University of Nebraska where he played college baseball for the Nebraska Cornhuskers for four years.[4] As a senior in 2019, he made 14 starts and went 6–4 with a 3.05 ERA and 93 strikeouts over 100 1⁄3 innings.[5]

Cleveland Indians

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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]

San Diego Padres

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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]

Pitching style

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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]

Personal life

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Waldron's twin brother, Mike, also played on the Nebraska baseball team.[21]

References

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  1. ^ "Matt Waldron". Lincoln Journal Star. June 2, 2015.
  2. ^ "Waldrons saw plenty of W's".
  3. ^ Hambleton, Ryly Jane (May 21, 2015). "State baseball: Matt Waldron's no-hitter lifts Westside to Class A title". Lincoln Journal Star. Retrieved April 19, 2024.
  4. ^ Nyatawa, Jon (June 2, 2016). "Ex-Westside baseball stars Matt Waldron, Jake Meyers helping each other as Huskers". Omaha World Herald. Retrieved April 19, 2024.
  5. ^ Ward, Andrew (June 5, 2019). "Matt Waldron selected by Indians in 18th round". Channel 8 News. Retrieved April 19, 2024.
  6. ^ Bland, Evan (June 5, 2019). "'I'm ready for this next chapter': Matt Waldron becomes first Husker selected in 2019 MLB draft". Star Herald. Retrieved April 19, 2024.
  7. ^ Grell, Clark (October 29, 2019). "Matt Waldron selected in the MLB Draft". Lincoln Journal Star. Retrieved April 19, 2024.
  8. ^ "2020 Diamonds in the Rough: RHP Matt Waldron". May 26, 2020.
  9. ^ Adler, David (June 30, 2020). "2020 Minor League Baseball season canceled". MLB.com. Retrieved April 19, 2024.
  10. ^ Hoynes, Paul (August 31, 2020). "Cleveland Indians trade Mike Clevinger, Greg Allen and player to be named to San Diego for six players". Cleveland.com. Retrieved April 19, 2024.
  11. ^ a b Cassavell, AJ (June 25, 2023). "Knuckleball returns to Majors with Waldron's solid debut". MLB.com. Retrieved April 19, 2024.
  12. ^ Sanders, Jeff (July 20, 2021). "Minors: Nola homers as catcher for el Paso; knuckleballer promoted to Double-A". San Diego Union-Tribune. Retrieved April 19, 2024.
  13. ^ Sanders, Jeff (February 18, 2022). "Minors: Right-handed starters to watch in the Padres' farm system". San Diego Union-Tribune. Retrieved April 19, 2024.
  14. ^ Sanders, Jeff (June 1, 2022). "Minors: Vela ends slump with TinCaps; Waldron deals for Missions". San Diego Union-Tribune. Retrieved April 19, 2024.
  15. ^ "Matt Waldron Stats, Fantasy & News". MiLB.
  16. ^ Sanders, Jeff (April 23, 2023). "Minors: Marcos Castañon powers TinCaps; Matt Waldron twirls a gem in El Paso loss". San Diego Union-Tribune. Retrieved April 19, 2024.
  17. ^ "Padres' Matt Waldron: Officially promoted for spot start". CBS Sports. June 24, 2023. Retrieved April 19, 2024.
  18. ^ a b Cassavell, AJ (June 23, 2023). "Knuckleballer to make MLB debut vs. Nats". MLB.com. Retrieved April 19, 2024.
  19. ^ Sanchez, Noel (June 25, 2023). "Padres News: Matt Waldron Immediately Optioned to Minors After Stellar Debut". Sports Illustrated Inside The Padres News, Analysis and More. Retrieved March 10, 2024.
  20. ^ "Matt Waldron Stats, Age, Position, Height, Weight, Fantasy & News". MLB.com. Retrieved April 19, 2024.
  21. ^ Gebhart, Nick (November 23, 2015). "Transitioning into college baseball, twin brothers prepare for the next level". The Daily Nebraskan. Retrieved April 19, 2024.
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