MLB fans were in awe after Padres pitcher Matt Waldron recorded Statcast's lowest-ever spin rate
The ball glitched in mid-air.
Padres pitcher Matt Waldron is the closest thing MLB has to an active knuckleball pitcher. The knuckleball isn’t his only pitch, but when he does throw one, they’re usually effective.
And on Sunday, he made some Statcast history in the process.
During the third inning of the Padres’ game against the Rockies, Waldron worked a sinker for a strike to start off his matchup with Aaron Schunk before going with three straight knuckleballs. That second pitch of the at-bat, though, was especially impressive. He basically painted the outside corner with a knuckleball that seemed to glitch in mid-air before catching the zone.
The spin rate was almost nonexistent.
This is the lowest spin rate ever measured by Statcast on a Knuckleball: 15 RPMs. pic.twitter.com/cP5BpeL1pG
— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) August 5, 2024
According to Statcast, that pitch registered just a 15 RPM spin rate, which is the lowest spin rate since Statcast began tracking metrics in 2015. Schunk would eventually single in the at-bat, but fans were awfully impressed with the record-setting knuckleball.
This was how Twitter/X reacted
Sheesh. That thing was tumbling all over the place https://t.co/PiwRRrhIhA
— Lorenzo Ferrari
(@jfull1914) August 5, 2024
Waldron has to be one of the best #5 pitchers in baseball. Haters, sit down. https://t.co/DOEUc7NdAG
— Bogaerting Xannies (@SDPadsCambodia) August 5, 2024
Nice work Matty Knuckles https://t.co/DAZVvtsyAO
— Dave The Friar Collector (@Bradford861) August 5, 2024
Dirty https://t.co/3G8RdymWqD
— Ryan Divish (@RyanDivish) August 5, 2024
How is that even possible?!
— Discuss Baseball (@discussbaseball) August 5, 2024
Looks like real life game lag.
— Willo (@WillosOther) August 5, 2024