Matt Waldron #61

Pitched four seasons at the University of Nebraska and finished ranked in the top 10 of several Cornhusker all-time lists, including innings pitched (third, 300.1), strikeouts (fourth, 253), starts (T-5th, 43) and wins (T-8th, 21).

2023

The right-hander pitched exclusively at the Triple-A level for the first time in his career before making his Major League debut with SD…he made right appearances (six starts) for the Padres, going 1-3 with a 4.35 ERA (20 ER, 41. IP), 1.23 WHIP and .244 opponents’ AVG...At the time of his call-up to the big leagues on June 24, he had struck out 75 Triple-A batters across 66.2 IP (10.1 SO/9 IP ratio) across his 14 appearances (12 starts)...Faced off against WSH in his ML debut on June 24 and allowed four hits (two HR) across 4.2 IP in SD’s 2-0 defeat…it was the only appearance in which he allowed multiple HR, but he allowed one HR in all seven of his other outings...the 8 straight appearances with 1+ HR allowed was the longest home run streak by any Padre to start their career...Was recalled from ELP five times throughout the season…for the Chihuahuas, he went 2-10 with a 7.31 ERA (75 ER, 92.1 IP) with 99 SO against 30 walks...The Padres were on the losing end in each of his first five appearances before going 3-0 in all three of his September appearances (all starts)…earned his first ML victory on Sept. 16 @ OAK behind 5.1 IP of two-run ball in SD’s 5-2 victory… struck out a career-high nine hitters in SD’s 4-2 victory on Sept. 22 vs. STL but did not factor into the winning decision… tossed a career-high 6.0 IP on Sept. 27 @ SF in his final outing of the campaign but did not factor into SD’s 5-2 victory...In his six starts, he went 1-3 with a 4.55 ERA (16 ER, 31.2 IP), 24 SO, 11 walks, and a .233 opponents’ AVG...in his two relief outings, he posted a 3.72 ERA (4 ER, 9.2 IP) with a .275 AVG against...Limited RHH to a .224 clip (19-85) while LHH batted .267 (20-75), but six of his nine HR allowed came vs. the right side...With no runners on base, opposing batters hit .284 (29- 102)…with RISP, he limited them to a .185 AVG (5-27) and with RISP/2 out, they hit .214 (3-14)...Features a knuckleball, throwing the pitch 181 times (26.9%) with a .242 opponent clip (8-33)...his 181 pitches thrown with his knuckle were the most of any player in ‘23 and the most of any pitcher in a season since Steven Wright threw 719 in 2018...they're also the most knuckleballs thrown in a season by any Padre (since Statcast started tracking pitches in 2008)...Also relied on a sinker (23.5%), fpur-seam fastball (20.7%), slider (15.9%) and cutter (13.1%).

2022

Split his third professional season between Double-A San Antonio (nine GS) and Triple-A El Paso (16 GS), combining to go 5-10 at with a 6.26 ERA (79 ER/113.2 IP) across 25 starts....Notched career bests in starts (25), innings pitched (113.2)and wins (5).... Began the season at Double-A San Antonio, where he pitched to a 2.84 ERA (14 ER, 44.1 IP) and a 2-1 record across nine starts before ascending to Triple-A El Paso on June 28....Turned in his best marks in May with SA, when he posted a 1.31 ERA (3 ER, 20.2 IP) and fanned 17 while allowing just three walks for a 5.67 K/BB across four starts with the Missions....Did not allow an earned run over 20.0 innings (four GS) from May 12 to June 23, compiling a 1-0 record with 15 strikeouts against just a trio of walks while limiting the opposition to a.191 average during the span....Spent the balance of the season going 3-9 with a 8.44 ERA(65 ER/69.1 IP) in his first stint at Triple-A....Ranked among the top El Paso arms in starts (third, 16),innings pitched (sixth, 69.1) and strikeouts (eighth, 58)....Also paced El Paso in losses (nine) and hit batters (nine) and ranked third in hits allowed (92) and earned runs (65)....Allowed 14 ER in 2022, three shy of the 11 he allowed in his first two seasons in 2019 & '21. 

2021

In his first season in SD's system, split the campaign between Fort Wayne (A) and San Antonio (AA), striking out 103 and walking just 35 across 103.2 IP and 20 starts... Began the season with FW, compiling a 3-4 record and 3.24 ERA (26 ER, 72.1 IP) to go along with 72 strikeouts, 19 BB and a .255 opp. AVG across 13 starts... Allowed 2 ER-or-fewer in 10 of his 13 starts and 1-or-fewer five times...reached the 5.0-inning plateau in 11 starts, the 6.0-inning mark six times and worked into the 7th inning or later on three occasions... Tossed a career-high 8.0 innings in his TinCaps' finale on July 14 at West Michigan, allowing just one unearned run on four hits while tying his career-high with eight punchouts (3x)... Promoted to SA on July 19 and made seven starts for the Missions, going 0-4 with a 6.61 ERA (23 ER, 31.1 IP)... Tossed 6.0 innings in each of his first three starts with SA, going 0-2 with a 4.00 ERA (8 ER, 18.0 IP)...went 0-2 with a 10.13 ERA (15 ER, 13.1 IP) over his final four starts... Made five Arizona Fall League relief appearances for the Peoria Javelinas following the season, allowing 3 ER, across 9.0 IP (3.00 ERA) with 8 SO and 1 BB.