Nationals Claim Knuckleballer Off Waivers, Move Connelly Early to 60-Day IL
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On Saturday, the Washington Nationals added another pitcher to their staff.
This time, the team revealed that right-handed pitcher Matt Waldron was claimed off waivers after he was designated for assignment by the Toronto Blue Jays following four disastrous appearances for them where he gave up five earned runs on seven hits across 4 1/3 innings pitched.
Waldron is infamous for being a knuckleball pitcher. He burst onto the scene in 2023 when he became the first pitcher to throw a knuckleball in a major league game since 2021. However, the 29-year-old is more known for his name than his game at this point, as he has struggled following his breakout in 2024 when he had a 4.91 ERA across 27 appearances (26 starts).
The Nationals are taking a flier on him via this waiver claim, which is something they've done throughout the year when it comes to struggling arms. What was also notable about this move was the fact that Connelly Early was moved to the 60-day injured list to make room on the 40-man roster.
Connelly Early Gets Moved to 60-Day Injured List
Some fans might have groaned when they saw that Early was being shifted to the 60-day IL. However, that does not impact his recovery timeline.
The left-hander is still dealing with a setback caused by forearm tightness that he experienced when he tried to return from elbow inflammation that landed him on the injured list in the first place. Because he suffered that setback, he wasn't expected to return until September, anyway.
After August ends, Early will be eligible for activation since he was originally placed on the injured list back on July 1. The 60-day designation was done solely to open up a roster spot for Waldron. It does not mean that anything has changed when it comes to Early or his rehab process since Washington is still hopeful that he'll make his team debut at some point this year.
Matt Waldron Trying to Get Career Back on Track
As for Waldron, he's getting a great opportunity to see if he can get his career back on track after it has gone off the rails this season.
Waldron only appeared in one big league game for the San Diego Padres in 2025. Following that disappointing campaign, he has dealt with injuries this year. That and some poor play has resulted in him owning a cumulative 7.54 ERA across 14 outings (three starts) for the Padres and Blue Jays. Because of that, he's now on his third team of the season.
Still, Waldron will have a chance to showcase what he can do with the Nationals.
It's no secret that this bullpen has been horrendous for the majority of the year. And with manager Blake Butera and president of baseball operations Paul Toboni looking for any consistent combination of relief arms on a daily basis, Waldron will get a shot with Washington.
Whether or not he can take advantage of this opportunity remains to be seen. But the knuckleball will likely be thrown for the Nationals sooner rather than later.
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Brad Wakai graduated from Penn State University with a degree in Journalism. While an undergrad, he worked at the student radio station covering different Penn State athletic programs like football, basketball, volleyball, soccer and other sports. Brad became the Lead Contributor for Nittany Lions Wire of Gannett Media where he continued to cover Penn State athletics. Currently, Brad is the Publisher for Washington Nationals On SI and covers multiple teams across the On SI network. He is the host of the sports podcast I Said What I Said, where he and his co-host discuss topics across the NFL, College Football, the NBA and other sports. You can follow him on Twitter: @bwakai