As a kid in Omaha, Nebraska, San Diego Padres right-hander Matt Waldron grew up mesmerized by the knuckleball and in awe of Tim Wakefield.
He and his brother learned the nuances of the pitch while playing with Wakefield on a video game. They marveled at it and came to an agreement that it’s “not fair.”
“It was just magical,” Waldron said.
As he incorporated the pitch into his repertoire, the Padres set up a Zoom meeting between Waldron and Wakefield so they could talk shop.
Sunday afternoon, when the 27-year-old Waldron made his Fenway Park debut, he threw a knuckleball to open the game to honor Wakefield, who died in October 2023.