NEW YORK -- For the better part of three seasons, Brandon Waddell toiled in Korea and Taiwan, performing well enough to maintain a steady paycheck but never quite capturing the attention of an interested big league team.
Waddell wanted very much to return to the Majors, where he had spent limited time from 2020-21. But his path back wasn’t obvious until this offseason, when the Mets reached out to offer him a Minor League deal.
Four and a half months later, Waddell not only returned to the sport’s highest level but reintroduced himself with the longest and finest outing of his career. Pitching in bulk relief so the Mets could give their regular rotation members an extra day of rest, Waddell blanked the Diamondbacks over 4 1/3 innings of a 4-3 Mets loss at Citi Field. He allowed three hits -- all singles -- and no walks, striking out four.
"It’s good to be back,” Waddell said. “I think I can pitch here. That’s one of the reasons why I really wanted to come back. To be able to do that was pretty cool.”
Although Waddell exited in line for a victory, Ryne Stanek allowed two runs in the seventh to hand the D-backs the lead. The Mets couldn’t quite complete a ninth-inning comeback attempt of their own, instead losing for just the second time in 15 home games. Waddell received a no-decision, despite an outing that manager Carlos Mendoza called “really, really good.”
Before Wednesday, Waddell had last appeared in a Major League game in July 2021. The Cardinals subsequently designated him for assignment, prompting Waddell to choose a job in Korea over the MLB waiver grinder. He pitched well enough to land a winter gig in Taiwan, then returned to Korea for two more seasons.
Pitching there for the Seoul-based Doosan Bears, Waddell reestablished his rotation bona fides, producing a 2.82 ERA over 32 starts from 2023-24 while striking out just shy of a batter per inning. His time overseas forced Waddell to “really learn how to pitch,” in his own words. Korean Baseball Organization hitters tend to swing and miss less often than their MLB counterparts. They value putting the ball in play. To combat that, Waddell began to unlock parts of his own game that he hadn’t in the past.
The Mets, who have specialized in starting pitcher reclamation projects under president of baseball operations David Stearns, took notice.
“Coming back over here was definitely the priority,” Waddell said.
Waddell signed in December, impressed in Spring Training, then bided his time at Triple-A Syracuse until the Mets had a need. Earlier this month, they called up Justin Hagenman for a spot start to manufacture an extra off-day for their regular starters -- especially for Kodai Senga, who’s long been accustomed to pitching once every six days as opposed to once every five. Wednesday, it was Waddell’s turn to give the rotation a respite.
Featuring a five-pitch mix including two fastball variations, two different sliders and a changeup, Waddell kept the Diamondbacks in a state of discomfort for much of the night. After opener Huascar Brazobán pitched the first two innings, Waddell entered and retired 13 of the 16 batters he faced, exiting to a warm ovation from the Citi Field crowd. His performance was the longest scoreless relief outing by a Mets lefty since Darren Oliver in 2006.
"It’s something I definitely didn’t expect, but you can feel it,” Waddell said of the ovation. “As a player, it means a lot to have that support. It’s something that we always really cherish.”
When Waddell might throw again for the Mets remains to be seen. Pitching in bulk relief, he demonstrated his aptitude for facing a lineup multiple times. But the Mets’ more pressing need is in the bullpen, where their top two left-handers, A.J. Minter and Danny Young, are both dealing with potentially major injuries. They need someone who can help out immediately.
As such, Waddell is likely headed back to the Minors for now, where he’ll await another chance -- whatever that might look like.
"This game is pretty cool -- you never know where it’s going to take you and the things it’ll teach you,” Waddell said. “To have that journey is pretty special. To be back is a lot of fun.”