Waldron Makes Immediate Contribution to Marauders' Run

Tyler Waldron, the Pittsburgh Pirates’ fifth-round selection in the 2010 MLB First-Year Player Draft, learned the best way to combat the stigma of being the “new guy” long before he developed into a 6-foot-2, 185-pound right-handed pitching prospect.

Now 22, the Pilot Hill, Ca. native remembers being the smallest and youngest player on a summer team full of 11- and 12-year-olds. A few months away from his eighth birthday at the time, Waldron got a spot on the team because his father persistently goaded the team’s coach.

“Everybody thought I was just a little kid without knowing what I was all about, but that's with everything," Waldron said. "As soon as you come into a new team guys think ‘here’s the new guy.’ You don’t know how to socialize with them until you see their first at-bat or their first outing. If you hit the ball hard or pitch well that first time, it opens up a lot of doors.”

Playing against advanced competition as a youngster enabled Waldron to become a two-time MVP and four-year letter winner at Golden Sierra High School. He enjoyed a collegiate career that included stints at the University of the Pacific and Oregon State.

He is now demonstrating just what type of pitcher he is capable of becoming by with the Florida State League’s Bradenton Marauders, snagging wins in his first two appearances and limiting the Fort Myers Miracle and Jupiter Hammerheads to a combined one run and four hits over 7 1/3 innings.

After signing with the Pirates organization, Waldron began his professional career at the Short Season Class-A level with the State College (Pa.) Spikes. His 4-7 record and earned run average of 3.90 in 14 starts last 2010 were not as important as becoming adjusted to the daily grind associated with professional baseball.

“I didn’t care last year if I won or lost or if I gave up 10 runs or no runs,” Waldron said. “It was all about the process of how I felt that day and how I pitched that day with the stuff I had that day. The biggest thing is figuring how to pitch on that day when you may not have your best stuff. Along with getting used to the five-day rotation and throwing every day, that was the struggle last year.”

Waldron’s first full season as a professional began in April with the West Virginia Power of the low Class-A South Atlantic League. By compiling a 7-6 record in 17 starts and limiting opponents to 91 hits and 53 runs over 97 innings, he earned a promotion to the Class-A advanced level.

With the Marauders’ he reunited with former Oregon State teammate Adalberto Santos. He also found himself two levels away from becoming a major leaguer and in the middle of a playoff race.

Bradenton, which took its franchise-record winning streak to nine by registering a 4-1 victory over visiting Jupiter on Monday night, is currently three games up on second-place Charlotte in the chase for the second-half FSL South Division championship.

“I know that we have to win the second half and make the playoffs,” Waldron said. “It’s fun because we’re in a hunt and we’re in a battle. This part of the season is the best part of the season if you’re in a race. If you’re not in a race, it can be long and it can be boring. These guys are very serious. We basically want to get the job done.”