Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
Sports Illustrated
Sports Illustrated
Sport
Ryan Phillips

Matt Waldron Threw Record-Breaking Knuckleball That Was a Thing of Beauty

Matt Waldron Rob Friedman Padres San Diego Padres Geoff Burke San Diego Statcast
Jul 24, 2024; Washington, District of Columbia, USA; San Diego Padres starting pitcher Matt Waldron (61) pitches against the Washington Nationals during the first inning at Nationals Park. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports | Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports

San Diego Padres starter Matt Waldron has brought the knuckleball back to Major League Baseball and is doing some incredible things this season. On Sunday, he made more noise, by throwing a pitch that broke a record, and some brains.

During a victorious start against the Colorado Rockies, Waldron unleashed a few mind-bending knucklers. One of those pitches had the lowest spin rate every measured by Statcast. It clocked in a 15 rpms. Yes, 15.

In a world where spiking spin rates are the goal of every pitcher in baseball, Waldron is putting together an excellent season with a pitch that barely rotates.

Video of some other incredible Waldron knuckleballs follows.

And another.

Just when hitters think they've dialed in on the knuckler, Waldron unleashes a nasty sweeper.

So far this season, the 27-year-old is 7-9, with a 3.79 ERA, a 1.15 ERA, and 116 strikeouts against 36 walks in 128 1/3 innings. But that doesn't do his campaign justice. He's been excellent after starting 1-4 with a 5.82 ERA on May 5. Since then, he's 6-5 with a 3.08 ERA, a 0.99 WHIP, and 87 strikeouts in 94 1/3 innings.

Waldron has been outstanding this season and his performance has been even more important to the Padres with Joe Musgrove and Yu Darvish missing significant time.

With San Diego deeply embedded in the National League playoff picture, we could see knuckleballs like this in the postseason thanks to Waldron.


This article was originally published on www.si.com as Matt Waldron Threw Record-Breaking Knuckleball That Was a Thing of Beauty.

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Tina Fey and Tom Hanks among stars to induct Martin Short into Saturday Night Live's Five-Timers Club
Tom Hanks, Tina Fey, Alec Baldwin and Scarlett Johansson were among the stars to induct Martin Short into the 'Saturday Night Live' Five-Timers Club on Saturday (21.12.24).
BANG Premier
BANG Premier
FDA restricts psychoactive mushroom used in some edibles
The regulator warned food manufacturers that Amanita muscaria –  more commonly known as the fly agaric – and the compounds it contains are not authorized to use
The Independent UK
The Independent UK
“I go to church every Sunday when I’m home. Especially now I’ve replaced the booze with glue”: From GN’R and Pantera to Ozzy Osbourne and God, Zakk Wylde is the most connected man in rock
It’s Zakk Wylde’s world - we just live in it
Metal Hammer
Metal Hammer
My husband and I tried the Scandi Sleep Method and love it — 3 reasons you will too
We avoided a sleep divorce thanks to the Scandinavian Sleep Method, but will it work for you too? Three telltale signs that it will...
Tom’s Guide
Tom’s Guide
45 Years Ago, A Disney Misstep Was A Secret Sci-Fi Masterpiece
The haters were wrong. On its 45th birthday, 'The Black Hole' is just as wonderfully manic as ever. Here's why this flop is actually worth your time.
Inverse
Inverse
Black long COVID patients ignored
New research found that those living with long COVID in the U.S. had significantly more anxiety and depression
Salon
Salon
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.
Download on the AppStore Get it on Google Play