2025 NRI Preview: Brandon Waddell

Brandon Waddell signed with the Mets in mid-December on the same day that Jared Young signed an MLB split deal with the team. This is notable because both players were coming back stateside after some time with the KBO’s Doosan Bears.

Waddell was drafted by the Pirates in 2015 and made his major league debut during the shortened 2020 season. After the 2020 season, he was selected off waivers by the Twins, then the Orioles, then the Cardinals, before he got released by St. Louis in 2022. He then jumped overseas and played part of the 2022 season with Doosan Bears and split 2023 between Doosan and Rakuten (CPBL).

Between 2020 and 2021, Waddell pitched in 11 major league games, totaling 12 2/3 innings with a 5.68 ERA, 2.132 WHIP, 6.41 FIP, and 83 ERA+. He has a low-90s fastball, mid-80s slider, mid-80s changeup, and low-90s sinker. During his limited time in the majors, he leaned on his four-seamer and slider, throwing his changeup and sinker together about 10% of the time.

The Mets are taking a flyer on Brandon Waddell because of his success overseas. He finished off his 2022 season with a 3.60 ERA over 65 innings for the Bears. The following season he had a 2.49 ERA over 18 starts, 104 2/3 innings pitching for the Bears. He added in another 71 innings with a 3.30 ERA over 12 starts for Rakuten. Last season he had 75 innings of 3.12 ERA ball over 14 starts again with the Bears. Further, in 2024 he had a 9.0 K/9 and 1.3 BB/9.

addell has already been sent to minor league camp, but here’s what to look for this spring:

• How long do the Mets keep him in major league camp? Does his work on the mound allow him to compete for a roster spot by the end of March?
• How does his walk rate look against major league hitters? A 1.3 BB/9 last season is phenomenal.
• Can he still generate whiffs and strikeouts despite not having overpowering stuff?

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