J. J. Matijevic | |
---|---|
Free agent | |
First baseman | |
Born: Latrobe, Pennsylvania, U.S. | November 14, 1995|
Bats: Left Throws: Right | |
MLB debut | |
April 22, 2022, for the Houston Astros | |
MLB statistics (through 2022 season) | |
Batting average | .209 |
Home runs | 2 |
Runs batted in | 5 |
Teams | |
Joseph John Matijevic (born November 14,1995) is an American professional baseball first baseman who is a free agent. He made his Major League Baseball (MLB) debut in 2022 for the Houston Astros.
Matijevic attended Norwin High School in North Huntingdon,Pennsylvania, [1] where he played baseball and basketball. The Boston Red Sox selected him as a shortstop in the 22nd round of the 2014 MLB Draft. He did not sign [2] and enrolled at the University of Arizona,where he played college baseball for the Arizona Wildcats. [2] [3] [4] In 2015 and 2016,Matijevic played collegiate summer baseball with the Falmouth Commodores of the Cape Cod Baseball League,where he was named a league all-star in 2015. [5] [6] [7]
The Houston Astros selected Matijevic with the 75th overall selection of the 2017 MLB Draft. [8] He signed with the Astros,receiving a $700,000 signing bonus,and was assigned to the Tri-City ValleyCats of the Class A-Short Season New York-Penn League,where he began his professional career. [9] Matijevic was promoted to the Quad Cities River Bandits of the Class A Midwest League [10] in August. In 59 games between the two teams,he hit .228 with seven home runs,31 RBIs,and 11 stolen bases.
Matijevic began 2018 with Quad Cities. In May,the Astros promoted him to the Buies Creek Astros of the Class A-Advanced Carolina League. [11] In 101 games between both teams,he hit .277/.350/.538 with 22 home runs and 62 RBIs. [12] He began 2019 with the Corpus Christi Hooks of the Class AA Texas League. [13] On April 30,Matijevic received a 50-game suspension after failing a second test for a drug violation. [14] He was selected to play in the Arizona Fall League for the Peoria Javelinas following the season. [15]
Matijevic did not play in a game in 2020 due to the cancellation of the minor league season because of the COVID-19 pandemic. [16] He split the 2021 season between Corpus Christi and the Triple-A Sugar Land Skeeters,slashing .254/.341/.512 with 25 home runs and 75 RBI in 109 total games.
The Astros invited Matijevic to Spring Training in 2022. He did not make the team at the outset of the season and was assigned to Triple-A Sugar Land,who had rebranded as the Sugar Land Space Cowboys. [17] He began the season batting .310 (13-for-42),.420 OBP,.714 SLG,1.134 OPS,with four home runs,and 10 RBI over 11 games.
After a hamstring injury to JoséAltuve,the Astros called up Matijevic from Sugar Land on April 20,2022. He made his major league debut on April 22 versus the Toronto Blue Jays,as a pinch hitter in the ninth inning of a 4–3 loss. Matijevic struck out in his lone at bat. He received his first career start in the major leagues on April 27,2022,manning first base versus the Texas Rangers. [18] On June 19,2022,Matijevic recorded his first major league hit,a home run,against the Chicacgo White Sox starter Michael Kopech,which landed in the Crawford Box seats at Minute Maid Park in a 4–3 Astros' win. [19] In the bottom of the ninth inning versus the New York Yankees on July 21,Matijevic hit a walk-off infield single with the bases loaded to score Alex Bregman for a 3–2 win . [20]
Matijevic was optioned to the Triple-A Sugar Land Space Cowboys to begin the 2023 season. [21] He was designated for assignment on March 30,after Corey Julks and César Salazar were added to the roster. [22] On April 3,he cleared waivers and was sent outright to Triple-A Sugar Land. [23] He became a free agent following the season. [24]
Alexander Cintrón is a Puerto Rican former professional baseball infielder and current hitting coach for the Houston Astros of Major League Baseball (MLB). He played in MLB for the Arizona Diamondbacks, Chicago White Sox, Baltimore Orioles, and Washington Nationals.
Michael Charles Brantley Jr., nicknamed ”Uncle Mike” and ”Dr. Smooth”, is an American professional baseball left fielder and designated hitter who is a free agent. He has played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Cleveland Indians and the Houston Astros. The son of former MLB player and hitting coach Mickey Brantley, he is a left-handed batter and thrower.
This a partial list of Minor League Baseball players in the Houston Astros system and the rosters of their minor league affiliates:
Kyle Daniel Tucker, nicknamed "King Tuck", is an American professional baseball right fielder for the Houston Astros of Major League Baseball (MLB). The Astros selected Tucker with the fifth pick in the first round of the 2015 MLB draft, and he made his MLB debut in 2018.
Seth Michael Beer is an American professional baseball outfielder and first baseman in the Arizona Diamondbacks organization. He played college baseball for the Clemson Tigers. Beer made his Major League Baseball (MLB) debut in 2021.
José Alexander Siri is a Dominican professional baseball outfielder for the Tampa Bay Rays of Major League Baseball (MLB). Siri signed with the Cincinnati Reds as an international free agent in 2012. He made his MLB debut in 2021 with the Houston Astros, who traded him to the Rays in 2022.
Michael Conner Capel is an American professional baseball outfielder who is a free agent. He has previously played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the St. Louis Cardinals and Oakland Athletics.
Jeremy Joan Peña is a Dominican-American professional baseball shortstop for the Houston Astros of Major League Baseball (MLB). He attended the University of Maine and played college baseball for the Black Bears. The Astros selected Peña in the third round of the 2018 MLB draft, and he made his MLB debut in 2022.
Rylan Thomas Bannon is an American professional baseball third baseman who is a free agent. He has previously played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Baltimore Orioles, Atlanta Braves and Houston Astros.
Korey Bryan Lee is an American professional baseball catcher for the Chicago White Sox of Major League Baseball (MLB). He has previously played in MLB for the Houston Astros.
Abraham Josue Toro is a Canadian professional baseball third baseman for the Milwaukee Brewers of Major League Baseball (MLB). He has previously played in MLB for the Houston Astros and Seattle Mariners. He was selected by the Astros in the fifth round of the 2016 Major League Baseball draft and made his MLB debut for them in 2019. He was traded to the Mariners during the 2021 season and to the Brewers after the 2022 season.
The 2021 Houston Astros season was the 60th season for the Major League Baseball (MLB) franchise in Houston, Texas, their 57th as the Astros, ninth in both the American League (AL) and AL West division, and 22nd at Minute Maid Park.
Alexander De Goti is an American professional baseball infielder who is a free agent. The Houston Astros drafted him in the 15th round of the 2016 MLB draft. He has previously played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Astros.
Jacob Berkshire Meyers is an American professional baseball outfielder for the Houston Astros of Major League Baseball (MLB). Meyers played college baseball for the Nebraska Cornhuskers. He was selected in the 13th round by the Astros in the 2017 MLB draft. He made his MLB debut in 2021.
Seth Antonio Martinez is an American professional baseball pitcher for the Houston Astros of Major League Baseball (MLB). From Sierra Vista, Arizona, Martinez attended Arizona State University and played college baseball for the Sun Devils. The Oakland Athletics selected Martinez in the 17th round of the 2016 MLB draft. Martinez remained in the Oakland organization until the Astros selected him in the 2020 Rule 5 draft, and he made his MLB debut in 2021.
Yainer Radhames Díaz is a Dominican professional baseball catcher for the Houston Astros of Major League Baseball (MLB).
Corey Christopher Julks is an American professional baseball outfielder and designated hitter for the Houston Astros of Major League Baseball (MLB). He made his MLB debut in 2023.
Bligh John Madris is an American-Palauan professional baseball outfielder who is a free agent. He has previously played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Pittsburgh Pirates and Houston Astros.
David James Hensley is an American professional baseball infielder for the Houston Astros of Major League Baseball (MLB). He attended San Diego State University (SDSU), played college baseball for the Aztecs, and was selected by the Astros in the 26th round of the 2018 MLB draft. He made his MLB debut in 2022.
César Salazar is a Mexican professional baseball catcher for the Houston Astros of Major League Baseball (MLB).