Bio
Right-hander LJ Waco will be making his professional debut in 2026 after spending four seasons at the University of Wisconsin–Oshkosh. In four years in college, the Illinois native went 11-4 with a 3.03 ERA in 38 games while making 17 starts. Waco tossed 145.1 innings at Wisconsin-Oshkosh, striking out 191, issuing 53 walks and surrendering 49 earned runs on 121 hits. He finished his four-year college career with a 1.197 WHIP. Waco spent his first two seasons working out of the pen before heading to the rotation his last two seasons. He would have the lowest ERA amongst starters in his final two seasons on campus.
Waco would finish his 2023 Junior season with an injury that would require Tommy John surgery, but he would come back strong for his Senior season in 2024. Waco would wrap up his final season at UWO going 5-3 in 10 games, making nine starts with a 2.89 ERA in 62.1 innings. He finished tied for first on the team in wins and second in innings pitched for the Titans. Waco punched out 79 batters to lead the team and finished the year surrendering 20 earned runs on 48 hits with 20 walks and a 1.091 WHIP. Waco was named to the All-WIAC Team in 2024 for the second time in his college career.
In 2023 the righty went 6-0 in nine games with eight starts with a 2.21 ERA in 61 innings. He was third in innings pitched for the Titans and first in strikeouts with 79. He would yield 15 earned runs on 54 hits with 13 walks to post a 1.098 WHIP for the season. Waco would once again earn all-conference honors for UWO.
Waco would make 16 appearances in relief in 2022 with no record but recording two saves in 19.2 innings of work. His 16 games pitched led the Titans, and he would put up an end-of-season line of 35 strikeouts, giving up 10 earned runs on 16 hits while issuing 16 free passes. Waco would finish with a 1.627 WHIP for the season. Following the season, Waco pitched for Green Bay in the Northwoods League, appearing in two games.
In 2021 Waco would pitch in three games as a Freshman, totaling 2.1 innings of work. He added one strikeout and went 0-1 with a 15.43 ERA in a limited sample size season. Prior to heading to Wisconsin, Waco was a standout pitcher at Cary Grove High School in Cary, Illinois. Waco has since returned to his high school alma mater to serve as the Pitching Coach.