Steven Matz has been named the third best left-handed pitching prospect in baseball by MLB Pipeline in their Top 10 list. He is behind the Dodgers Julio Urias (#1) and the Rays Blake Snell (#2). Matz is just 14.1 innings away from losing his prospect status.
Matz made his Major League debut on June 28th in rousing fashion against the Reds pitching 7.2 innings of two-run ball while going 3 for 3 with four RBI at the plate. Overall, the former second round pick went 4-0 with a 2.27 ERA and 1.234 WHIP in his first six regular season big league starts.
Here is what MLB Pipeline had to say about Matz:
It hasn’t been the most direct path for Matz, who missed nearly three years of competitive pitching coming back from injuries. The wait was worth it, as Matz pitched his way to the big leagues and even into the postseason in 2015. The further removed from injury he gets, the more the concern about his durability dissipates. Matz is the only one on this list with big league time.
He also made three playoff starts including Game Four of the National League Championship Series in which the Mets won 8-3 putting them in the World Series. He pitched 14.2 innings in the postseason (don’t count towards rookie eligibility) allowing six runs and striking out 13.
I was a little surprised to see him only number three on this list, definitely thought he would be number two at least. I understand being behind the projectable Urias who is still only 19-years old and has already seen some time in AAA for the Dodgers. If not for the deep rotation of the Dodgers there is a good chance he could make his Major League debut in 2016.
The stretch to me is putting Snell ahead of Matz even with him coming off a breakout 2015 performance that saw him named Baseball America’s Minor League Player of the Year. Without the injury concerns that some have with Matz I think he would have been number two.
In MLB Pipeline’s 2015 Top 10 left-handed prospect list, Matz was second only behind Urias. Steven was ranked as the 15th best prospect in baseball according to MLB Pipeline in 2015. Their new Top 100 list will be coming out on January 29th.
Snell finished his excellent 2015 with a .947 WHIP in AAA, also behind the log jam in the majors. Not a stretch to see him in the 2 spot. We could see 5 pitchers among the top 10.
Stretch probably was a poor choice of wordage, still think with Matz and his success in the big leagues he should be ahead of Snell. I think Matz has better stuff too.
Without the injury concerns a number one ranking would not be far off. I do agree that Matz has better stuff and to quote JP “he can shove it like a mother!cka”
All three should still be in the top 10, joined by Gioloto and possibly Glasnow.