Drafted in the 5th round (147th overall) by the Pittsburgh Pirates in 2010 (signed for $173,500).
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Righthander Waldron went from the Beavers' Friday starter to the bullpen by the end of the season. A 6-foot-2, 205-pound transfer from Pacific, Waldron has good stuff--sitting at 90-92 and spiking 95 every now and then--but he doesn't have much deception. Hitters see his stuff well, and he struggles to put them away. Waldron has tinkered with a slider but more on a curveball as his breaking pitch. He also needs to take a few ticks off his changeup. Waldron is an enigma to scouts and could go anywhere from the fifth to the 15th round.
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Waldron's inconsistency during his college career has carried into pro ball. After one season at Pacific, he transferred to Oregon State and began 2010 as the Beavers' Friday-night starter. He pitched his way into the bullpen by the end of his draft year, and has gone 23-24, 4.62 in three seasons since the Pirates signed him for $173,500. Waldron lacks a true plus pitch but has four offerings that could be average. He throws an 89-93 mph fastball, a cutter, a slurvy breaking ball and a changeup. He throws strikes but his command isn't as sharp as his control. Waldron added velocity to his pitches when used in the Arizona Fall League after last season, and Pittsburgh plans on using him as a reliever in 2013. He'll open the season in Double-A and could move quickly if he starts locating his pitches better.
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