Brandon Waddell

Attended Clear Lake High School in Houston, Texas, where he pitched and played first base... While in high school, took college-level courses at the University of Houston-Clear Lake and was a member of the National Honor Society... Attended the University of Virginia to play baseball and graduated with a degree in economics... Went 5-5 with a 3.93 ERA (110.0 IP) in 19 starts as a junior for the NCAA champion University of Virginia Cavaliers... Went 2-0 with a 2.62 ERA in five starts during the 2015 NCAA Tournament, and was the winning pitcher in the third and deciding game of the College World Series against Vanderbilt after allowing two runs in 7.0 innings of work... Named to the All-College World Series team for a second straight season in 2015 to become the first person to do so in consecutive seasons since South Carolina’s Michael Roth and Christian Walker (2011 & 2012)... Made a University of Virginia record 53 starts in his career, including school-record 19 in 2015 (tied for the national lead)... Holds the Virginia school record for career NCAA tournament starts (11) wins (6), IP (73.0) and strikeouts (45)... Started five College World Series games in his career (UVa was 5-0).

2021

Prior to Spring Training, was claimed off waivers by Minnesota from Pittsburgh. Subsequently was designated for assignment and went unclaimed, attending Spring Training as a non-roster invitee... Had his contract purchased by the Twins on 4/7... Designated for assignment and claimed off waivers by Baltimore on 5/8... Appeared in only two games for Norfolk (AAA) and one for Baltimore before being designated for assignment and claimed off waivers by St. Louis on 6/6... In his only appearance with the Orioles on 5/27 at Chicago White Sox, worked around a two-out walk in a scoreless 8th inning... In his Cardinals debut on 6/28 vs. Arizona, recorded the final three outs of a scoreless 9th inning in a 7-1 win at Busch... Made three appearances in July before being optioned to Memphis... Missed close to two months of action while on the COVID-19 Injured List while in Memphis (AAA)... Recalled on 9/20, but did not appear in a game. Optioned to Memphis on 9/24 when Dakota Hudson and Jack Flaherty were activated from the injured list.

2020

Was not an invite to Pittsburgh spring training but still made four appearances in spring with the Pirates, coming from the minor league side of camp...Began season at Pirates alternate training site in Altoona and had contract selected by Pirates Aug. 9...Made major league debut Aug. 14 at Cincinnati; struck out Jesse Winker to end the seventh inning before giving up a two-out run in the eighth...Pitched 2.0 scoreless innings on Aug. 20 vs. Cleveland (issued 2 walks)…Optioned to the alternate training camp Sept. 1 and finished season on club's Taxi Squad Sept. 23-27...Held left-handed hitters to a .143 average (1-for-7) and right-handed batters to a .200 average (1-for-5)…Placed on outright waivers after the Twins signed Alex Colomé and cleared becoming a non-roster invite.

2019

Attended Pittsburgh spring training as a non-roster invite but did not make the club, starting the season at Double-A Altoona...went 2-1, 2.68 ERA (53.2 IP, 16 ER) in nine starts and was promoted to Triple-A Indianapolis in late May where he finished the season...started making more relief appearances, entering in relief five times for the Indians. 

2018

Split season between Double-A Altoona and Triple-A Indianapolis, combining in to go 7-9, 3.59 ERA (135.1 IP, 54 ER) with 55 walks and 103 strikeouts...named International League Pitcher of the Week July 15...rated by Baseball America as having the Best Changeup in the Pirates minor league system...named Pitcher on Pittsburgh MiLB.com organization All-Star Team.

2017

Split season between three levels in Pittsburgh organization...made two trips to the Injured List in April and most of June and July with a left forearm strain...entered the season rated by Baseball America as having the Best Changeup in Pittsburgh’s minor league system...went 1-0 with a 2.57 ERA and 15 strikeouts in nine appearances (one start) for Glendale in the Arizona Fall League.

2016

Named Eastern League Pitcher of the Week with Altoona from June 20-26 and the Florida State League Pitcher of the Week with Bradenton April 25- May 1...named MiLB.com Florida State League Player of the Month for April after going 4-0 with a 0.93 ERA in five starts; allowed just 13 hits while striking out 26 batters over 29.0 innings...finished tied for third among Pirates farmhands in wins (11) and tied for fourth in strikeouts (120)...named Pitcher on Pittsburgh MiLB.com organization All-Star Team.

2015

Began professional career with Single-A West Virginia (Pittsburgh)...struck out 18 batters in 20.1 innings pitched...pitched 6.0 scoreless innings and earned the win in Game 3 against Williamsport to win the best-of-three New York-Penn League semifinals September 13.