Matt Waldron
San Diego Padres – No. 61
Pitcher
Born: (1996-09-26) September 26, 1996
Omaha, Nebraska, U.S.
Bats: Right
Throws: Right
MLB debut
June 24, 2023, for the San Diego Padres
MLB statistics
(through 2023 season)
Win–loss record1–3
Earned run average4.35
Strikeouts31
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

Amateur

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

Following the season's end, he was selected by the Cleveland Guardians 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

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] He opened the 2021 season with the High–A Fort Wayne TinCaps and was promoted to the Double–A San Antonio Missions in July.[11] He finished the season starting twenty games going 3–8 with a 4.25 ERA and 103 strikeouts over 103+2⁄3 innings.[12]

Waldron returned to San Antonio to begin 2022 and was promoted to the Triple–A El Paso Chihuahuas in late June.[13] Over 25 starts between the two teams, he went 5–10 with a 6.26 ERA and 96 strikeouts over 113+2⁄3 innings.[14] To open the 2023 season, he was assigned to El Paso.[15] 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.[16]

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.[17]

Personal life

Waldron's twin brother, Mike, also played on the Nebraska baseball team.[18]

References

  1. ↑ "Matt Waldron".
  2. ↑ "Waldrons saw plenty of W's".
  3. ↑ "State baseball: Matt Waldron's no-hitter lifts Westside to Class a title".
  4. ↑ "Ex-Westside baseball stars Matt Waldron, Jake Meyers helping each other as Huskers".
  5. ↑ "Matt Waldron selected by Indians in 18th round". June 5, 2019.
  6. ↑ "'I'm ready for this next chapter': Matt Waldron becomes first Husker selected in 2019 MLB draft".
  7. ↑ "Matt Waldron selected in the MLB Draft".
  8. ↑ "2020 Diamonds in the Rough: RHP Matt Waldron". May 26, 2020.
  9. ↑ "2020 Minor League Baseball season canceled". MLB.com.
  10. ↑ "Cleveland Indians trade Mike Clevinger, Greg Allen and player to be named to San Diego for six players". August 31, 2020.
  11. ↑ "Minors: Nola homers as catcher for el Paso; knuckleballer promoted to Double-A". July 20, 2021.
  12. ↑ "Minors: Right-handed starters to watch in the Padres' farm system". February 18, 2022.
  13. ↑ "Minors: Vela ends slump with TinCaps; Waldron deals for Missions". June 2022.
  14. ↑ "Matt Waldron Stats, Fantasy & News".
  15. ↑ https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/sports/padres/story/2023-04-23/minors-marcos-castanon-powers-tincaps-matt-waldron-twirls-a-gem-in-el-paso-loss
  16. ↑ "Padres' Matt Waldron: Officially promoted for spot start". cbssports.com. Retrieved June 24, 2023.
  17. ↑ https://www.mlb.com/news/matt-waldron-first-mlb-knuckleballer-since-2021
  18. ↑ "Transitioning into college baseball, twin brothers prepare for the next level".
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