Padres Knuckleballer Matt Waldron Faces Uncertain 2026 Outlook

After a disappointing 2025 season, the right-hander must prove himself in spring training to earn a spot in the rotation.

Apr. 10, 2026 at 2:42am

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

A fragmented, geometric painting depicting a baseball pitcher's windup and delivery, with sharp, overlapping planes in muted earth tones conveying the challenges of perfecting the knuckleball pitch.A cubist interpretation of a Padres pitcher's delivery highlights the complexities of mastering the knuckleball.Philadelphia Today

Padres pitcher Matt Waldron struggled mightily in 2025, posting a 6.48 ERA in the minors and a 7.71 ERA in the majors. The key issue was his reliance on the knuckleball, which had been effective for him in 2023 and 2024 but led to an injury and poor performance last season. Now firmly behind other pitchers in the Padres' rotation depth chart, Waldron will need a strong spring training in 2026 to force his way onto the team and avoid being exposed to waivers.

Why it matters

Waldron's knuckleball experiment has been a rollercoaster, and his inability to find consistency with the pitch has jeopardized his standing within the Padres' organization. As the team looks to contend in 2026, they'll need reliable arms in the rotation, putting pressure on Waldron to rediscover his form and earn a spot.

The details

In 2023, Waldron's knuckleball was effective, yielding a .210 expected batting average and 26.7% usage. However, in 2024 he leaned into it more, throwing it 38.2% of the time and posting a 2.63 ERA in 13 starts. But the love-hate relationship with the knuckleball intensified, leading to a wall hitting late in the summer and an oblique injury in spring training 2025. This injury set him back, and he struggled to regain his form, making just one poor spot start in Philadelphia before returning to Triple-A El Paso.

  • In 2023, Waldron's knuckleball was effective.
  • In 2024, Waldron threw the knuckleball 38.2% of the time and posted a 2.63 ERA in 13 starts.
  • In the summer of 2025, Waldron hit a wall with his knuckleball.
  • In spring training 2025, Waldron suffered an oblique injury.
  • In 2025, Waldron made just one poor spot start in Philadelphia before returning to Triple-A El Paso.

The players

Matt Waldron

A right-handed pitcher in the San Diego Padres organization who has struggled with his knuckleball experiment over the past few seasons.

Randy Vásquez

A Padres pitcher who is currently ahead of Waldron in the team's rotation depth chart.

JP Sears

Another Padres pitcher who is currently ahead of Waldron in the team's rotation depth chart.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What’s next

Waldron will need a strong spring training in 2026 to force his way onto the Padres' roster and avoid being exposed to waivers.

The takeaway

Waldron's struggles with the knuckleball have put his future with the Padres in jeopardy. He'll need to rediscover his form and consistency in 2026 to earn a spot in the team's rotation and prove he can be a reliable arm for a contending team.