| Matt Whatley | |
|---|---|
| Free agent | |
| Catcher | |
| Born:January 7, 1996 Claremore, Oklahoma, U.S. | |
Bats: Right Throws: Right |
Matthew Whatley (born January 7,1996) is an American professional baseball catcher who is a free agent.
Whatley attended Claremore High School in Claremore,Oklahoma. He received one offer to play college baseball in NCAA Division I,from Oral Roberts University. [1] He played for the Oral Roberts Golden Eagles. [2] [3] In 2016,he played collegiate summer baseball in the Cape Cod Baseball League for the Yarmouth-Dennis Red Sox. [4] In 2017,he won the Johnny Bench Award. [5] [6]
The Texas Rangers drafted Whatley in the third round,with the 104th overall selection,of the 2017 Major League Baseball draft. [7] He signed with the Rangers,receiving a $517,100 signing bonus. [8]
Whatley spent 2017 with both the rookie-level Arizona League Rangers and Low-A Spokane Indians,posting a combined .295 batting average with six home runs and 28 RBI in 44 games between the two affiliates. [9] Whatley began the 2018 season with the Down East Wood Ducks of the High-A Carolina League [10] and was reassigned to the Hickory Crawdads of the Single-A South Atlantic League at the end of the season. In 52 games between both teams,Whatley hit .179 with three home runs and 14 RBI. [11]
Whatley was assigned back to Hickory for the 2019 season, [12] hitting .234/.349./321 with four home runs,49 RBI,and 29 stolen bases. [13] [14] Whatley played in the Arizona Fall League for the Surprise Saguaros following the 2019 season. [15] Whatley was named the Texas Rangers 2019 Minor League Defender of the Year. [16] Whatley did not play in a game in 2020 due to the cancellation of the Minor League Baseball season because of the COVID-19 pandemic. [17]
Whatley spent the 2021 season with the Frisco RoughRiders of the Double-A Central,hitting .203/.316/.282 with four home runs and 14 RBI. [11] He split the 2022 season between Frisco and the Round Rock Express of the Triple-A Pacific Coast League,hitting a combined .228/.287/.328 with four home runs and 16 RBI. [18] In 70 games for Round Rock in 2023,he batted .203/.290/.322 with six home runs,25 RBI,and five stolen bases. Whatley elected free agency following the season on November 6,2023. [19]
On November 27,2023,Whatley re-signed with the Rangers organization on a minor league contract. [20] He spent 2024 with Triple-A Round Rock,he played in 50 games and hit .199/.295/.319 with five home runs,15 RBI,and four stolen bases. Whatley elected free agency following the season on November 4,2024. [21]
On February 5,2025,Whatley signed a minor league contract with the Toronto Blue Jays that included an invitation to spring training. [22] He did not make an appearance for the organization before being released by Toronto on May 2. [23]