Brandon Waddell Stats & Scouting Report

IP	11.1
ERA	7.15
WHIP	1.500
BB/9	0.8
SO/9	7.9

Full name Brandon David Waddell
Born 06/03/1994 in Houston, TX
Profile Ht.: 6'3" / Wt.: 180 / Bats: L / Throws: L
School Virginia
Debut 08/14/2020
Drafted in the 5th round (157th overall) by the Pittsburgh Pirates in 2015 (signed for $315,000).

View Draft Report

Waddell was a key part of Virginia's deep run at Omaha as a sophomore, and had high expectations in 2015. His stuff came and went from start to start, though he did show flashes of excellence. At his best, Waddell works off his potential average fastball and late-moving cutter. He's able to get his heater up to 92, though he pitches more in the upper 80s. Waddell's curveball also shows potential at times, with above-average depth and 11-to-5 shape, though he has a habit of breaking the pitch off early, an issue he will have to correct before the pitch is ready to use against Major Leaguers. Waddell's stuff is generally pretty vanilla, and some project him as more of middle innings reliever, though the deception in his delivery leads some scouts to believe that he may be able to sharpen his stuff up enough to pitch as a no. 5 starter.

Top Rankings

Organization Prospect Rankings

Waddell was Virginia's go-to hurler in big games, and he went 6-1, 2.34 in 11 NCAA Tournament games. He won all five of his career starts in the College World Series, helping the Cavaliers to the 2015 national title. That convinced the Pirates to take him in the fifth round. Waddell reached Double-A Altoona in his first full season in 2016. He didn't get a chance to move up in 2017, thanks in part to two left forearm strains that cost him close to a month, but he still became a stalwart for the Curve in their Eastern League championship run. He pitched six shutout innings in his start against Trenton in the championship series, continuing to be a go-to starter in big games. He gets most of his work done with the combination of a fastball that sits between 88-92 mph that he can locate to both sides of the plate and a changeup with fade that looks exactly like a fastball out of his hand. He's working on a breaking ball that's something in between a slider and a curveball, and he's trying to commit to one direction or another with it. Waddell will join at backlog of pitchers at Triple-A Indianapolis in 2018 and has No. 5 starter potential.
Waddell was one of the best big-game college pitchers in recent years. He won all five career starts in the College World Series for Virginia, including a complete-game shutout in 2014, and helped the Cavs win the 2015 CWS. Overall he went 6-1, 2.34 in 11 NCAA Tournament starts. Waddell climbed all the way to Double-A Altoona in his first full season in 2016. Waddell's stuff grades out as just average across the board, with an 89-91 mph fastball along with a slider and a changeup. He sets himself apart by expertly mixing his pitches and his willingness to pitch inside despite subpar velocity, which dovetails with the Pirates' organizational philosophy. Waddell won't ever pitch at the top of the rotation and his inability to get Double-A hitters to chase pitches outside the strike zone is a concern. He'll start 2017 back in the Double-A rotation.

Draft Prospects

Waddell was a key part of Virginia's deep run at Omaha as a sophomore, and had high expectations in 2015. His stuff came and went from start to start, though he did show flashes of excellence. At his best, Waddell works off his potential average fastball and late-moving cutter. He's able to get his heater up to 92, though he pitches more in the upper 80s. Waddell's curveball also shows potential at times, with above-average depth and 11-to-5 shape, though he has a habit of breaking the pitch off early, an issue he will have to correct before the pitch is ready to use against Major Leaguers. Waddell's stuff is generally pretty vanilla, and some project him as more of middle innings reliever, though the deception in his delivery leads some scouts to believe that he may be able to sharpen his stuff up enough to pitch as a no. 5 starter.

Best Tools List

Rated Best Changeup in the Pittsburgh Pirates in 2019
Rated Best Changeup in the Pittsburgh Pirates in 2018

Career Transactions

Syracuse Mets placed LHP Brandon Waddell on the 7-day injured list.
Syracuse Mets activated LHP Brandon Waddell from the 7-day injured list.
Syracuse Mets placed LHP Brandon Waddell on the 7-day injured list.
New York Mets invited non-roster LHP Brandon Waddell to spring training.
New York Mets sent LHP Brandon Waddell outright to Syracuse Mets.
New York Mets designated LHP Brandon Waddell for assignment.
New York Mets recalled LHP Brandon Waddell from Syracuse Mets.
Syracuse Mets activated LHP Brandon Waddell.
New York Mets optioned LHP Brandon Waddell to Syracuse Mets.
New York Mets recalled LHP Brandon Waddell from Syracuse Mets.
New York Mets optioned LHP Brandon Waddell to Syracuse Mets.
New York Mets activated LHP Brandon Waddell from the 15-day injured list.
New York Mets reassigned LHP Brandon Waddell to the minor leagues.
New York Mets sent LHP Brandon Waddell on a rehab assignment to Syracuse Mets.
New York Mets sent LHP Brandon Waddell on a rehab assignment to Binghamton Rumble Ponies.
New York Mets placed LHP Brandon Waddell on the 15-day injured list retroactive to July 19, 2025. Right hip impingement.
New York Mets placed LHP Brandon Waddell on the 15-day injured list.
New York Mets optioned LHP Brandon Waddell to Syracuse Mets.
New York Mets recalled LHP Brandon Waddell from Syracuse Mets.
New York Mets optioned LHP Brandon Waddell to Syracuse Mets.
New York Mets recalled LHP Brandon Waddell from Syracuse Mets.
New York Mets optioned LHP Brandon Waddell to Syracuse Mets.
New York Mets recalled LHP Brandon Waddell from Syracuse Mets.
New York Mets optioned LHP Brandon Waddell to Syracuse Mets.
New York Mets selected the contract of LHP Brandon Waddell from Syracuse Mets.
Memphis Redbirds released LHP Brandon Waddell.
Memphis Redbirds activated LHP Brandon Waddell from the 7-day injured list.
Memphis Redbirds placed LHP Brandon Waddell on the 7-day injured list.
St. Louis Cardinals optioned LHP Brandon Waddell to Memphis Redbirds.
St. Louis Cardinals activated LHP Brandon Waddell.
St. Louis Cardinals optioned LHP Brandon Waddell to Memphis Redbirds.
St. Louis Cardinals recalled LHP Brandon Waddell from Memphis Redbirds.
Memphis Redbirds activated LHP Brandon Waddell from the 7-day injured list.
Memphis Redbirds placed LHP Brandon Waddell on the 7-day injured list.
Memphis Redbirds activated LHP Brandon Waddell from the 7-day injured list.
St. Louis Cardinals optioned LHP Brandon Waddell to Memphis Redbirds.
St. Louis Cardinals selected the contract of LHP Brandon Waddell from Memphis Redbirds.
St. Louis Cardinals optioned LHP Brandon Waddell to Memphis Redbirds.
St. Louis Cardinals claimed LHP Brandon Waddell off waivers from Baltimore Orioles.
Baltimore Orioles designated LHP Brandon Waddell for assignment.
Baltimore Orioles optioned LHP Brandon Waddell to Norfolk Tides.
Baltimore Orioles recalled LHP Brandon Waddell from Norfolk Tides.
Baltimore Orioles claimed LHP Brandon Waddell off waivers from Minnesota Twins.
LHP Brandon Waddell assigned to Norfolk Tides.
Minnesota Twins designated LHP Brandon Waddell for assignment.
Minnesota Twins optioned LHP Brandon Waddell to St. Paul Saints.
Minnesota Twins recalled LHP Brandon Waddell from Twins Alternate Training Site.
Minnesota Twins optioned P Brandon Waddell to Twins Alternate Training Site.
Minnesota Twins selected the contract of P Brandon Waddell from Twins Alternate Training Site.
LHP Brandon Waddell assigned to St. Paul Saints.
Minnesota Twins invited non-roster LHP Brandon Waddell to spring training.
P Brandon Waddell assigned to Minnesota Twins .
Minnesota Twins designated LHP Brandon Waddell for assignment.
Minnesota Twins claimed LHP Brandon Waddell off waivers from Pittsburgh Pirates.
Pittsburgh Pirates recalled LHP Brandon Waddell from Pirates Alternate Training Site.
Pittsburgh Pirates optioned LHP Brandon Waddell to Pirates Alternate Training Site.
Pittsburgh Pirates selected the contract of Brandon Waddell from Pirates Alternate Training Site.
Pittsburgh Pirates invited non-roster LHP Brandon Waddell to spring training.
LHP Brandon Waddell assigned to Pittsburgh Pirates.
LHP Brandon Waddell assigned to Indianapolis Indians from Altoona Curve.
LHP Brandon Waddell assigned to Altoona Curve from Indianapolis Indians.
Pittsburgh Pirates invited non-roster LHP Brandon Waddell to spring training.
LHP Brandon Waddell assigned to Indianapolis Indians from GCL Pirates.
LHP Brandon Waddell assigned to GCL Pirates from Indianapolis Indians.
LHP Brandon Waddell assigned to Indianapolis Indians from Altoona Curve.
Altoona Curve activated LHP Brandon Waddell from the 7-day disabled list.
Altoona Curve sent LHP Brandon Waddell on a rehab assignment to West Virginia Black Bears.
Altoona Curve sent LHP Brandon Waddell on a rehab assignment to GCL Pirates.
Altoona Curve placed LHP Brandon Waddell on the 7-day disabled list retroactive to June 6, 2017. Left forearm strain.
Altoona Curve activated LHP Brandon Waddell from the 7-day disabled list.
Altoona Curve placed LHP Brandon Waddell on the 7-day disabled list retroactive to April 14, 2017. Left forearm strain.
LHP Brandon Waddell assigned to Altoona Curve from Bradenton Marauders.
LHP Brandon Waddell assigned to Bradenton Marauders from West Virginia Black Bears.
LHP Brandon Waddell assigned to West Virginia Black Bears.
Pittsburgh Pirates signed LHP Brandon Waddell.
St. Louis Cardinals sent LHP Brandon Waddell outright to Memphis Redbirds.
St. Louis Cardinals sent LHP Brandon Waddell outright to Memphis Redbirds.