J. J. Matijevic
Matijevic with the Corpus Christi Hooks in 2019
Free agent
First baseman
Born: (1995-11-14) November 14, 1995
Latrobe, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Bats: Left
Throws: Right
MLB debut
April 22, 2022, for the Houston Astros
MLB statistics
(through 2022 season)
Batting average.209
Home runs2
Runs batted in5
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.

Amateur career

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]

Professional career

Minor leagues

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.

Houston Astros

After a hamstring injury to José Altuve, 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]

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Two former WPIAL players projected to be early picks in MLB draft | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette". Post-gazette.com. Retrieved May 7, 2018.
  2. 1 2 "Norwin grad J.J. Matijevic's bat is music to Arizona's ears | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette". Post-gazette.com. Retrieved May 7, 2018.
  3. ↑ Mike Kovak (April 16, 2017). "Norwin graduate Matijevic blossoms for No. 7 Arizona". TribLIVE. Retrieved May 7, 2018.
  4. ↑ Lev, Michael (June 11, 2017). "Appeal of Arizona Wildcats prospects JJ Matijevic, Jared Oliva goes beyond talent | Arizona Wildcats Baseball". tucson.com. Retrieved May 7, 2018.
  5. ↑ "#12 JJ Matijevic". pointstreak.com. Retrieved September 25, 2019.
  6. ↑ "#13 JJ Matijevic - Profile". pointstreak.com. Retrieved September 25, 2019.
  7. ↑ "Cape League All-Star, Home Run selections released". capecodbaseball.org. Retrieved May 6, 2020.
  8. ↑ Jake Kaplan (June 12, 2017). "Astros draft Arizona second baseman J.J. Matijevic at 75th overall - Houston Chronicle". Chron.com. Retrieved May 7, 2018.
  9. ↑ Jake Kaplan (June 24, 2017). "Astros draftee JJ Matijevic to begin pro career with Tri-City - Houston Chronicle". Chron.com. Retrieved May 7, 2018.
  10. ↑ Beckner Jr., Bill (April 26, 2018). "Matijevic finding his rhythm with Astros' single-A River Bandits". TribLIVE. Retrieved May 7, 2018.
  11. ↑ Beckner Jr., Bill (May 8, 2018). "Norwin grad Matijevic promoted to Astros' high-A team". TribLIVE. Retrieved May 22, 2018.
  12. ↑ "J.J. Matijevic Stats, Highlights, Bio - MiLB.com Stats - The Official Site of Minor League Baseball". MiLB.com. Retrieved December 31, 2018.
  13. ↑ "Norwin grad Matijevic assigned to Double-A | TribLIVE.com". March 29, 2019.
  14. ↑ Chandler Rome (April 30, 2019). "Astros prospect J.J. Matijevic suspended 50 games for drug violation". Houston Chronicle. Retrieved July 16, 2019.
  15. ↑ "2019 Arizona Fall League rosters". MLB.com.
  16. ↑ "2020 Minor League season canceled". mlbtraderumors.com. June 30, 2020.
  17. ↑ "J.J. Matijevic stats, fantasy & news".
  18. ↑ Lerner, Danielle (April 27, 2022). "'I made it to the show!': Astros' J. J. Matijevic gets to share first big-league stint with family". Houston Chronicle. Retrieved June 18, 2022.
  19. ↑ Rome, Chandler (June 19, 2022). "Astros insider: J.J. Matijevic's first home run and the 'best Father's Day ever'". Houston Chronicle. Retrieved June 20, 2022.
  20. ↑ "Matijevic's 9th-inning single lifts Astros over Yankees 3–2". ESPN.com. Associated Press. July 21, 2022. Retrieved July 21, 2022.
  21. ↑ "Astros' J.J. Matijevic: Optioned out to Triple-A". cbssports.com. Retrieved March 29, 2023.
  22. ↑ "Astros DFA J.J. Matijevic, Bligh Madris". March 30, 2023.
  23. ↑ "Transactions".
  24. ↑ "2023 MiLB Free Agents". November 8, 2023.
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