Wikipedia

Brandon Waddell

Brandon David Waddell (born June 3, 1994) is an American professional baseball pitcher who is a free agent. He has played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Pittsburgh Pirates, Minnesota Twins, Baltimore Orioles, and St. Louis Cardinals. He has also played in the KBO League for the Doosan Bears and the Chinese Professional Baseball League (CPBL) for the Rakuten Monkeys.

Brandon Waddell
Waddell with the Bradenton Marauders in 2016
Free agent
Pitcher
Born: (1994-06-03) June 3, 1994 (age 30)
Houston, Texas, U.S.
Bats: Left
Throws: Left
Professional debut
MLB: August 14, 2020, for the Pittsburgh Pirates
KBO: August 5, 2022, for the Doosan Bears
CPBL: April 1, 2023, for the Rakuten Monkeys
MLB statistics
(through 2021 season)
Win–loss record0–1
Earned run average5.68
Strikeouts9
KBO statistics
(through 2024 season)
Win–loss record23–10
Earned run average2.98
Strikeouts215
CPBL statistics
(through 2023 season)
Win–loss record5–5
Earned run average3.30
Strikeouts60
Stats at Baseball Reference Edit this at Wikidata
Teams

Career

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Amateur career

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Waddell attended Clear Lake High School in Houston, Texas, and took college level courses at the University of Houston–Clear Lake. He enrolled at the University of Virginia to play college baseball for the Virginia Cavaliers baseball team.[1] Virginia reached the final round in the 2014 College World Series, and he started the must win game two,[2] which Virginia won, but then went on to lose game three. With his extra credits, Waddell graduated from the University of Virginia in three years with a degree in economics, and has been admitted to the masters program in the School of Education and Human Development (formerly the Curry School of Education) at Virginia.[1] He pitched in the deciding game of the 2015 College World Series,[3][4] earning the win.

Pittsburgh Pirates

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The Pittsburgh Pirates selected Waddell in the fifth round of the 2015 MLB draft. He signed with the Pirates, receiving a $315,000 signing bonus.[5] Waddell made his professional debut with the West Virginia Black Bears of the Low–A New York-Penn League,[6] where he spent the whole season, going 1–1 with a 5.75 ERA in six games. He began the 2016 season with the Bradenton Marauders of the High–A Florida State League, and was promoted to the Altoona Curve of the Double–A Eastern League in May.[7] He pitched to a combined 11–9 record with a 3.49 ERA between both teams. Waddell spent 2017 with Altoona where he posted a 3–3 record with a 3.55 ERA in 15 games.[8] He split the 2018 and 2019 seasons between Altoona and the Indianapolis Indians of the Triple–A International League.

On August 9, 2020, Waddell had his contract selected to the 40-man roster. He made his major league debut on August 14 against the Cincinnati Reds.[9]

Minnesota Twins

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On October 30, 2020, the Minnesota Twins claimed Waddell off of waivers.[10] On February 11, 2021, Waddell was designated for assignment following the waiver claim of Kyle Garlick.[11] On February 13, Waddell was outrighted and invited to spring training as a non-roster invitee.[12] On April 7, 2021, Waddell was selected to the 40-man and active rosters.[13] After recording an 11.25 ERA in 4 appearances, Waddell was designated for assignment on May 7, 2021.[14]

Baltimore Orioles

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On May 8, 2021, Waddell was claimed off of waivers by the Baltimore Orioles.[15] Waddell pitched 1.0 scoreless inning for Baltimore before being designated for assignment on June 4.[16]

St. Louis Cardinals

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On June 6, 2021, Waddell was claimed off waivers by the St. Louis Cardinals.[17] Waddell made 4 appearances for the Cardinals in 2021, going 0-1 with a 6.75 ERA and 7 strikeouts. On April 4, 2022, Waddell was designated for assignment by the Cardinals. He was outrighted to the Triple-A Memphis Redbirds on April 7.[18] He was released on July 13.

Doosan Bears

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On July 17, 2022, Waddell signed with the Doosan Bears of the Korea Baseball Organization. He made 11 starts for Doosan down the stretch, logging a 5-3 record and 3.60 ERA with 40 strikeouts in 65 innings pitched.

Rakuten Monkeys

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On January 14, 2023, Waddell signed with the Rakuten Monkeys of the Chinese Professional Baseball League.[19] On April 1, Waddell started an Opening Day victory for the Monkeys in his CPBL debut.[20] In 12 starts for Rakuten, he registered a 5–5 record and 3.30 ERA with 60 strikeouts in 71.0 innings pitched.

Doosan Bears (second stint)

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On June 12, 2023, the Monkeys completed a contract transfer with the Doosan Bears of the KBO League, with Waddell set to report to Doosan on June 16 after one final start with the Monkeys.[21] In 18 starts for Doosan, he registered an 11–3 record and 2.49 ERA with 100 strikeouts across 104+2⁄3 innings of work.

On December 21, 2023, Waddell re–signed with the Bears on a one–year, $1 million contract.[22] In 2024, he posted a 7–4 record with a 3.12 ERA and 75 strikeouts across 75 innings pitched. Waddell became a free agent following the season.

References

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  1. ^ a b "While taking down opposing batters, Waddell completes UVa degree in three years". The Daily Progress. Retrieved September 13, 2016.
  2. ^ "Brandon Waddell, Virginia beat Vanderbilt, send CWS to decisive Game 3". MLB.com. Retrieved September 13, 2016.
  3. ^ "UVa's Brandon Waddell is ready for one last start". Retrieved September 13, 2016.
  4. ^ "Sherman: Virginia turns to its consistent star". June 24, 2015. Retrieved September 13, 2016.
  5. ^ "Brandon Waddell Signs with Pittsburgh Pirates". Retrieved September 13, 2016.
  6. ^ Murray, Todd (August 16, 2015). "It's all about competing for Bears' Waddell". The Dominion Post. Archived from the original on September 18, 2016. Retrieved September 12, 2016.
  7. ^ "Waddell has solid debut against Trenton – AltoonaMirror.com – Altoona, PA – News, Sports, Jobs, Community Information – The Altoona Mirror". Retrieved September 13, 2016.
  8. ^ "Brandon Waddell Stats, Highlights, Bio – MiLB.com Stats – The Official Site of Minor League Baseball". Retrieved November 3, 2017.
  9. ^ Conlin, Bennett (September 18, 2020). "Former Virginia star Brandon Waddell looks to build off MLB debut". The Daily Progress. Retrieved November 24, 2020.
  10. ^ Miller, Phil (October 31, 2020). "Twins pick up two pitchers: starter Brandon Waddell, reliever Ian Gibaut". Star Tribune. Retrieved November 24, 2020.
  11. ^ "Twins Claim Kyle Garlick, Designate Brandon Waddell". MLB Trade Rumors. February 11, 2021.
  12. ^ "Minor MLB Transactions: 2/13/21". MLB Trade Rumors. February 13, 2021.
  13. ^ "Twins Select Brandon Waddell, Place Brent Rooker On IL". MLB Trade Rumors. April 7, 2021.
  14. ^ "Twins Place Byron Buxton On Injured List, Recall Trevor Larnach". MLB Trade Rumors. May 7, 2021.
  15. ^ Zencka, TC (May 8, 2021). "Latest Roster Moves From Twins, Orioles". MLB Trade Rumors.
  16. ^ "Orioles Make Several Roster Moves". MLB Trade Rumors. June 4, 2021.
  17. ^ "Cardinals Claim Brandon Waddell, Outright Tyler Webb". MLB Trade Rumors. June 6, 2021.
  18. ^ Franco, Anthony (April 7, 2022). "Cardinals Outright Brandon Waddell". MLB TradeRumors. Retrieved April 7, 2022.
  19. ^ Yen, William; Hsieh, Ching-wen (January 14, 2023). "CPBL's Rakuten Monkeys sign American southpaw Brandon Waddell". Central News Agency. Retrieved January 14, 2023. Republished by the Taipei Times
  20. ^ Yang, Chi-fang; Chao, Yen-hsiang (April 2, 2023). "Pinch-hit homer powers Monkeys past Brothers in CPBL season opener". Central News Agency. Retrieved April 3, 2023.
  21. ^ "KBO's Doosan Bears Sign Brandon Waddell from CPBL". cpblstats.com. June 12, 2023. Retrieved June 16, 2023.
  22. ^ "Doosan Bears are fifth KBO team to reach foreign player max". koreajoongangdaily.joins.com. December 21, 2023. Retrieved December 21, 2023.
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