Knuckleball – one of the most challenging pitches in Major League Baseball (MLB) because few pitchers can master it. When a knuckleballer takes the mound, it always grabs attention.
The only full-time knuckleballer in MLB currently is Matt Waldron, a 27-year-old right-hander for the San Diego Padres. He only joined a major league rotation in 2024, after five years in pro baseball.
Waldron didn’t anticipate securing a spot in the Padres rotation this year, but he’s been impressive with a 4-5 record and a solid 3.76 ERA. Over his last six starts, he’s 3-1 with an excellent 1.78 ERA.
Perfecting the knuckleball is tough. The grip must be light yet firm, released in a way that prevents spinning. Because it’s slow and lacks spin, it’s tricky for batters to anticipate its path, making it hard to hit.
Patrick Mahomes, the quarterback of the Kansas City Chiefs, played both baseball and football at Texas Tech University. While Mahomes wasn’t known for his knuckleball, his recent appreciation tweet for Waldron shows his respect for the pitch.
Mahomes tweeted, “I am trying to figure out the Waldron dude who plays for the Padres.”
There’s a baseball academy solely dedicated to the knuckleball, attracting players seeking to master this unique pitch. Some former position players like Alex Blandino and David Fletcher attempted to transition to knuckleball pitchers without much success.
Since R.A. Dickey’s retirement in 2017, Waldron stands out as MLB’s premier knuckleballer. He expressed his surprise at Mahomes’ shoutout, saying, “It is kind of crazy. I feel like I am living in a completely different world.”