Matt Waldron's gravity-defying knuckleball played out like a cruel joke on Padres catcher Kyle Higashioka

It’s been years since MLB has seen a pitcher throw the knuckleball with as much consistency as Padres pitcher Matt Waldron has this season. And while fans have absolutely loved watching that knuckleball in action, it can be mayhem for catchers.

Padres catcher Kyle Higashioka would probably agree with that.

Waldron was on the mound for San Diego in Saturday’s game against the Diamondbacks. And during José Herrera’s second-inning at-bat, Waldron’s knuckleball seemingly left his hand with spin before hitting the brakes in mid-air for that aggressive knuckleball action. Of course, all that movement threw Higashioka off as he desperately tried to follow the knuckleball’s trajectory.

If you told me this was a practical joke on Higashioka, I would have believed you.

Knuckleballs are pure evil. pic.twitter.com/OrfDf8L7WB

— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) July 7, 2024

The knuckleball would hit the heel of Higashioka’s glove for the most unfortunate of passed balls. Like, did the official scorer see that pitch?! I wouldn’t blame Higashioka for struggling with it.

Fans, though, could not stop watching the replay. Physics did not apply to that knuckleball.

This was how Twitter/X reacted

Midway thru Physics shrugged its shoulders and said “F it” https://t.co/ScXQFuot2S

— OldTimeHardball (@OleTimeHardball) July 7, 2024

every catcher forced to catch knuckleballers should get the presidential medal of freedom.

that is sadistic to expect a human being to catch a pitch like that. https://t.co/QSn8LcZmXd

— HONEY NUT CHOURIOS (52-38) (@jeremywick) July 7, 2024

This looks impossible to catch, even in slo-mo. https://t.co/RqQ5cNzQ88

— Dan Grossman (@TheRealMisterG) July 7, 2024

Knuckleball: when you want to leave location up to RNG https://t.co/qY993RIYFE

— DC Sports (@WashingtonWoes) July 7, 2024

Catching these things has to be an art. I’d bet you need to wait as long as possible to move the mit. Insane. https://t.co/M38xqGRfDN

— TheCatchTwentyTwo (@The_Twenty_Two) July 7, 2024

They’re like a butterfly dancing in the wind https://t.co/1AcuABBk78

— CoachJohn (@CoachJohn20) July 7, 2024

What in the world… https://t.co/OIY32K6wRZ

— Shawn Stewart (@Awexome1) July 7, 2024

I can't stop watching this. https://t.co/6sXRm4BC7c

— Lejla (@wowenbhoen) July 7, 2024

Voodoo ball https://t.co/llb1JzlCYs

— CoachChris11U (@11URingLord) July 7, 2024