On February 13,2004,Mateo was signed as an international free agent by the Cincinnati Reds. Upon joining the Reds,Mateo joined their Rookie-level minor league affiliate,the Gulf Coast League Reds. In one season with the GCL Reds,he pitched in 13 games,had a 4–3 win–loss record,a 4.30 Earned Run Average (ERA),23 strikeouts,and a 1.46 WHIP.
In the 2006 season,Mateo joined the Billings Mustangs of the rookie-level Pioneer League,where in 18 games,he went 5–1 with a 4.30 ERA and 30 strikeouts. Mateo spent the 2007 campaign with the Single-A Dayton Dragons,where he put together a 3.50 ERA,63 strikeouts,and a 1.278 WHIP in 41 appearances.[1]
To begin the 2008 season,Mateo was assigned to the Cubs' Single-A affiliate,the Peoria Chiefs. In eight games,he struck out 20 batters in just 15 innings pitched,which prompted a call-up to the High-A Daytona Cubs. Mateo pitched in 25 games for Daytona,recording a 3.57 ERA,a 1.31 WHIP,and 65 strikeouts.[1] His performance with both Peoria and Daytona prompted the Cubs to add him to their 40-man roster on November 11,to protect him from being selected in the Rule 5 draft. MLB.com,at the same time,considered Mateo to be a "top prospect" for the Cubs.[3] Mateo started the 2009 season with Daytona again,but was quickly promoted after not allowing a run in nine innings. Reportedly,the Cubs wanted to test him as a starting pitcher before calling him up to Double-A.[4] On April 26,Mateo made his debut for the Double-A Tennessee Smokies. He pitched 3+2⁄3 innings for the Smokies, walked four and struck out one, but only allowed one run. In 34 total games for Tennessee, Mateo would make a total of 13 other starts and finished the season with a 4.07 ERA, a 1.44 WHIP, and 70 strikeouts across 97+1⁄3 innings pitched.[1]
Mateo began the 2010 season with Tennessee, recording a 2.18 ERA, a 1.258 WHIP, and 29 strikeouts, before being called up to the Triple-A Iowa Cubs at the end of July.[5] He pitched eight games for Iowa, before being called up to the Cubs on August 9, 2010, replacing Mitch Atkins on the 25-man roster.[6] In his major league debut, Mateo came into the game in the 11th inning and gave up a sacrifice fly to Pat Burrell of the San Francisco Giants, which allowed the winning run to score for the Giants.[7] Mateo had given up two hits and a walk to load the bases before Burrell drove in the winning run.[7] He would go on to pitch in 20 more games for Chicago in 2010, recording a 5.82 ERA, a 1.338 WHIP, and 26 strikeouts over 21+2⁄3 innings of work.[8]
During spring training in 2011, Mateo was on the roster bubble for a spot in the bullpen[9] and was in a race with veterans Carlos Silva and Braden Looper for the final pitching spot on the team.[10] However, on March 26, Mateo ended up winning the battle as both Looper and Silva were released by the team.[11] Mateo made 23 appearances for the Cubs during the year, compiling a 1-2 record and 4.30 ERA with 25 strikeouts over 23 innings of work.[12]
On June 1, 2012, Mateo underwent Tommy John surgery, ruling him out for the remainder of the season.[13] He spent the 2013 season in rehabilitation, posting a 1.74 ERA with 30 strikeouts in 24 appearances split between the Triple-A Iowa Cubs, Tennessee, and the AZL Cubs.
On December 12, 2013, Mateo was selected by the Arizona Diamondbacks with the fifteenth pick in the Rule 5 draft.[14] However, he did not make the team out of spring training, and was returned to the Cubs organization on March 13, 2014.[15] Mateo spent the entirety of the year with Triple-A Iowa, posting a 3-0 record and 3.86 ERA with 43 strikeouts and two saves in 37+1⁄3 innings pitched across 33 appearances.
Mateo broke a save record with 21 saves in the 2014–2015 season with the Estrellas Orientales.
San Diego Padres
On January 8, 2015, Mateo signed a minor league contract with the San Diego Padres organization.[16] He was assigned to the Triple-A El Paso Chihuahuas to begin the year. On June 24, the Padres selected Mateo's contract, adding him to their active roster.[17] In 26 appearances for San Diego, he compiled a 1-1 record and 4.00 ERA with 33 strikeouts over 27 innings of work.[18] On December 24, the Padres released Mateo to allow him to pursue an opportunity in Japan.[19]
Hanshin Tigers
On December 22, 2015, Mateo agreed to sign with the Hanshin Tigers of Nippon Professional Baseball, a deal which became official following his release from the Padres organization.[20] Mateo made 52 appearances for Hanshin during the 2016 season, posting a 1-3 record and 1.80 ERA with 56 strikeouts and 20 saves over 55 innings of work.
On November 29, 2016, Mateo signed a one-year contract extension to remain with the Tigers.[21] He made 63 appearances out out the bullpen for Hanshin in 2017, registering a 7-4 record and 2.75 ERA with 62 strikeouts across 59 innings pitched.
In 2018, Mateo made 17 appearances for the Tigers, but struggled to an 0-1 record and 6.75 ERA with 13 strikeouts across 14+2⁄3 innings pitched. On October 31, 2018, Mateo was released by Hanshin.[22]
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