Brandon Waddell

Brandon David Waddell (born June 3, 1994) is an American professional baseball pitcher for the Doosan Bears of the KBO League. He has played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Pittsburgh Pirates, Minnesota Twins, Baltimore Orioles, and St. Louis Cardinals and in the Chinese Professional Baseball League (CPBL) for the Rakuten Monkeys.

Amateur career
Waddell attended Clear Lake High School in Houston, Texas, and took college level courses at the University of Houston–Clear Lake. He enrolled at the University of Virginia to play college baseball for the Virginia Cavaliers baseball team. Virginia reached the final round in the 2014 College World Series, and he started the must win game two, which Virginia won, but then went on to lose game three. With his extra credits, Waddell graduated from the University of Virginia in three years with a degree in economics, and has been admitted to the masters program in the School of Education and Human Development (formerly the Curry School of Education) at Virginia. He pitched in the deciding game of the 2015 College World Series, earning the win.

Pittsburgh Pirates
The Pittsburgh Pirates selected Waddell in the fifth round of the 2015 MLB draft. He signed with the Pirates, receiving a $315,000 signing bonus. Waddell made his professional debut with the West Virginia Black Bears of the Low–A New York-Penn League, where he spent the whole season, going 1–1 with a 5.75 ERA in six games. He began the 2016 season with the Bradenton Marauders of the High–A Florida State League, and was promoted to the Altoona Curve of the Double–A Eastern League in May. He pitched to a combined 11–9 record with a 3.49 ERA between both teams. Waddell spent 2017 with Altoona where he posted a 3–3 record with a 3.55 ERA in 15 games. He split the 2018 and 2019 seasons between Altoona and the Indianapolis Indians of the Triple–A International League.

On August 9, 2020, Waddell had his contract selected to the 40-man roster. He made his major league debut on August 14 against the Cincinnati Reds.

Minnesota Twins
On October 30, 2020, the Minnesota Twins claimed Waddell off of waivers. On February 11, 2021, Waddell was designated for assignment following the waiver claim of Kyle Garlick. On February 13, Waddell was outrighted and invited to spring training as a non-roster invitee. On April 7, 2021, Waddell was selected to the 40-man and active rosters. After recording an 11.25 ERA in 4 appearances, Waddell was designated for assignment on May 7, 2021.

Baltimore Orioles
On May 8, 2021, Waddell was claimed off of waivers by the Baltimore Orioles. Waddell pitched 1.0 scoreless inning for Baltimore before being designated for assignment on June 4.

St. Louis Cardinals
On June 6, 2021, Waddell was claimed off waivers by the St. Louis Cardinals. Waddell made 4 appearances for the Cardinals in 2021, going 0-1 with a 6.75 ERA and 7 strikeouts. On April 4, 2022, Waddell was designated for assignment by the Cardinals. He was outrighted to the Triple-A Memphis Redbirds on April 7. He was released on July 13.

Doosan Bears
On July 17, 2022, Waddell signed with the Doosan Bears of the Korea Baseball Organization. He made 11 starts for Doosan down the stretch, logging a 5-3 record and 3.60 ERA with 40 strikeouts in 65 innings pitched.

Rakuten Monkeys
On January 14, 2023, Waddell signed with the Rakuten Monkeys of the Chinese Professional Baseball League. On April 1, Waddell started an Opening Day victory for the Monkeys in his CPBL debut. In 12 starts for Rakuten, he registered a 5–5 record and 3.30 ERA with 60 strikeouts in 71.0 innings pitched.

Doosan Bears (second stint)
On June 12, 2023, the Monkeys completed a contract transfer with the Doosan Bears of the KBO League, with Waddell set to report to Doosan on June 16 after one final start with the Monkeys. In 18 starts for Doosan, he registered an 11–3 record and 2.49 ERA with 100 strikeouts across $104 2⁄3$ innings of work.

On December 21, 2023, Waddell re–signed with the Bears on a one–year, $1 million contract.