Padres' Matt Waldron Threw Mesmerizing Knuckleballs That Made Marlins Look Foolish
![Padres starting pitcher Matt Waldron throws a pitch in the first inning against the Miami Marlins at Petco Park. Padres starting pitcher Matt Waldron throws a pitch in the first inning against the Miami Marlins at Petco Park.](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_crop,w_2915,h_1639,x_0,y_18/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/images/ImagnImages/mmsport/si/01hz12xab1hjp7qzwpcg.jpg)
If he's on, San Diego Padres right-handed pitcher Matt Waldron is one of the most intriguing pitchers to watch in baseball.
Walton throws five pitches, but he's best known for his knuckleball that dances around the strike zone on a nightly basis. It was dancing again Tuesday during his start against the Miami Marlins at Petco Park.
Through seven innings, Waldron fanned eight batters. All eight Marlins went down swinging at his knuckleball, a series of highlights best enjoyed in slow motion.
Matt Waldron's Knuckleball is Dancin' 🦋 pic.twitter.com/Kdamhs05eN
— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) May 29, 2024
Matt Waldron, Filthy Knuckleball. 🦋
— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) May 29, 2024
6th K pic.twitter.com/IWbV51cxuA
Matt Waldron's 7th K
— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) May 29, 2024
All by Knuckleballs. pic.twitter.com/uQNrGdAbyT
Matt Waldron, Dirty 84mph Knuckleball...and Sword. ⚔️
— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) May 29, 2024
8th K (all by knuckleballs) pic.twitter.com/cYDsHSE7aj
Waldron's knuckleball has a spin rate of 240. (For reference, the average spin rate on an MLB pitch is around 2350). Opponents are batting .240 against the knuckleball but also swing and miss at the pitch over 35% of the time.
The 27-year-old Waldron owned a 2–5 record and 4.86 ERA entering Tuesday's start.