The Tim Wakefield-mentored knuckleballer prepares to make his Fenway debut

Knuckleball is returning to Fenway Park, and it’s thanks in part to late Boston Red Sox legend Tim Wakefield.

The mercurial outfield will return to Fenway as San Diego Padres starter Matt Waldron is set to take the mound for Sunday’s game against the Red Sox.

As Dennis Lin of The Athletic reported, Waldron’s career got a boost three years ago when a pitching coach connected him with Wakefield. The former Red Sox shortstop gave Waldron a “crash course” on the finer points of the field during a Zoom call.

At the time, Waldron was with the Single-A Fort Wayne TinCaps when a pitching coach noticed him fooling around with the knuckleball. Waldron told The Athletic that he and his twin brother occasionally threw it “to mess with people” when they were younger.

Eventually, Waldron reached out to Wakefield, who gave the young pitcher advice, looking at “nails, finger pressure and mechanics,” according to the San Diego Union-Tribune.

Unlike Wakefield, who threw the knuckleball the vast majority of the time, Waldron uses it as part of a larger arsenal. As the Union-Tribune reports, Waldron throws it 30-35 percent of the time along with a 90 fastball, sweeper, sinker and cutter.

After adding his pitch to his arsenal in 2021, Waldron’s career began to unravel as he advanced to Double-A, Triple-A and now the majors.

Waldron is now in his second MLB season. Through 16 starts this year, he is 5-6 with a 3.43 ERA. A Red Sox fan who grew up in Nebraska, Waldron says he’s looking forward to stepping on the mound at Fenway.

“I hope I feel that presence or whatever you want to say,” Waldron said. “How the world goes round, sort of. I want to experience everything.”

Waldron will pitch from the same mound that Wakefield has used for the vast majority of his MLB career. Wakefield, who began his career as a first baseman, pitched 590 games for the Red Sox, going 186-168 as a starter and helping the team win two World Series titles.

The knuckleballer was one of the most beloved players of his generation and remained a fixture in the Red Sox organization after he retired.

Wakefield died in October 2023, aged 57, following a cancer diagnosis.

Waldron told The Athletic that he was drawn to the many characters on the Red Sox growing up, including Manny Ramirez, David Ortiz and the knuckleballer who went on to mentor him.

“Fenway and Tim Wakefield,” Waldron said, “They just seemed to go together.”

Waldron is set to take the mound for Sunday’s game at 1:35 p.m. He is expected to face Red Sox pitcher Josh Winckowski.