Brice Matthews Stats & Scouting Report

AB	208
AVG	.269
OBP	.391
SLG	.471
HR	9

Full name Brice Andre Matthews
Born 03/16/2002 in Houston, TX
Profile Ht.: 6'0" / Wt.: 175 / Bats: R / Throws: R
School Nebraska
Drafted in the 1st round (28th overall) by the Houston Astros in 2023 (signed for $2,478,200).

View Draft Report

School: Nebraska Source: 4YR

Commit/Drafted: Never Drafted
Age At Draft: 21.3
BA Grade:45/High
Tools:Hit: 50. Power: 50. Run: 55. Field: 50. Arm: 55.

During the 2023 season Matthews became the first player in Nebraska history to hit 20 home runs and steal 20 bases. He had a solid season in 2022, when he hit .261/.379/.476 with seven home runs, but made impressive adjustments during his draft year while drawing heavy scouting attention. Scouts marvel at the athleticism and tool set he brings, which can impact a game in multiple ways. A righthanded hitter with a 6-foot, 190-pound frame, Matthews destroyed pitches in almost every quadrant of the strike zone, and his loose, lightning-quick set of hands generated exit velocities up to 113 mph. Most of his heavy damage is to the pull side, but he has shown the ability to drive the ball the other way on pitches out and over the plate. Defensively, Matthews has the ability to stay at shortstop long term. He has the range, quickness and requisite arm strength for the position. He did commit 21 fielding errors this season and had a .900 fielding percentage, so if he’s not able to improve his consistency at the next level, scouts have considered him as a potential center fielder, where his above-average speed, arm, instincts and range could all translate nicely. With an up-the-middle profile and power/speed combination, he’s put himself into top-three rounds consideration.

Top Rankings

Organization Prospect Rankings

BA Grade/Risk: 55/High

Track Record: The Astros drafted Matthews 28th overall in 2023 following a season in which he became the first 20-20 hitter in Nebraska program history. Houston assigned him to High-A Asheville in 2024 before he missed most of May with lower back discomfort. In 21 games, Matthews hit a robust .321/.423/.580 and earned promotion to Double-A Corpus Christi just 11 games after his return from the injured list. He hit .252./.376/.497 over 42 Double-A games while spending time on the injured list with a back injury. He was promoted to Triple-A Sugar Land on Sept. 10. Following the season, Matthews played in the Puerto Rican League.

Scouting Report: Matthews is an athletic infielder with a Three True Outcomes profile and plus speed. He has little to no remaining physical projection. Matthews bat-to-ball skills are well below-average, and he swung and missed at a high rate. This is somewhat offset by excellent swing decisions. He rarely expands the zone and shows above-average on-base skills. Matthews has a tendency to get passive, but superior contact quality boosts his results. He shows above-average power and a knack for making hard contact in the form of line drives and fly balls. Matthews’ elite contact quality is arguably the defining characteristic of his game. He’s a plus runner and a constant threat to steal. His speed translates to range in the field, and he saw time at three infield positions in 2024. Matthews has a good first step and is capable of making athletic throws on the run, though his hands and actions let him down at times. His near-average arm is accurate, but some throws at shortstop or third base are a stretch.

The Future: Matthews could be an inconsistent—but exciting—above-average regular capable of filling in at three infield positions.

Scouting Grades: Hit: 40 | Power: 55 | Run: 60 | Field: 50 | Arm: 45.
BA Grade: 50/High

Track Record: A breakout junior season at nebraska in 2023 put Matthews on the prospect map. He drew heavy interest throughout his draft spring, especially as he became the first player in nebraska history to hit 20 home runs and steal 20 bases in a season. He was drafted by the Astros 28th overall and signed for $2.48 million, roughly 14% below slot value. Matthews debuted in the Florida Complex League after the draft but was quickly promoted to Low-A Fayetteville. He played in 33 games for the Woodpeckers and hit .217/.373/.367.

Scouting Report: A well-rounded player with a tooled-up skill set, Matthews shows fringe-average bat-to-ball skills, with a good dose of swing-and-miss that surfaced early in his professional debut. Matthews’ contact skills are counterbalanced by his selective eye at the plate. He will rarely, if ever, expand the zone. While he can get passive at times, he attacks mostly everything over the plate. Matthews shows above-average game power and has a knack for driving pitches on the inner half of the plate to his pull side. An above-average runner, Matthews is an instinctual baserunner capable of stealing 25 or more bases annually. He stole 18 bases in 22 tries in his 35-game pro debut. His speed translates to good range at shortstop, where he shows good hands and actions. His throwing arm is fringe-average, and he often lacks the strength and accuracy needed for shortstop. Other organizations saw him as a potential center fielder in pro ball.

The Future: Matthews is an exciting, tooled-up player with a good combination of on-base skills, power and speed. His best-case outlook is a rangy second baseman with above-average offensive contributions.

Scouting Grades Hit: 45 | Power: 55 | Run: 55 | Field: 55 | Arm: 45

Draft Prospects

School: Nebraska Source: 4YR

Commit/Drafted: Never Drafted
Age At Draft: 21.3
BA Grade:45/High
Tools:Hit: 50. Power: 50. Run: 55. Field: 50. Arm: 55.

During the 2023 season Matthews became the first player in Nebraska history to hit 20 home runs and steal 20 bases. He had a solid season in 2022, when he hit .261/.379/.476 with seven home runs, but made impressive adjustments during his draft year while drawing heavy scouting attention. Scouts marvel at the athleticism and tool set he brings, which can impact a game in multiple ways. A righthanded hitter with a 6-foot, 190-pound frame, Matthews destroyed pitches in almost every quadrant of the strike zone, and his loose, lightning-quick set of hands generated exit velocities up to 113 mph. Most of his heavy damage is to the pull side, but he has shown the ability to drive the ball the other way on pitches out and over the plate. Defensively, Matthews has the ability to stay at shortstop long term. He has the range, quickness and requisite arm strength for the position. He did commit 21 fielding errors this season and had a .900 fielding percentage, so if he’s not able to improve his consistency at the next level, scouts have considered him as a potential center fielder, where his above-average speed, arm, instincts and range could all translate nicely. With an up-the-middle profile and power/speed combination, he’s put himself into top-three rounds consideration.

Career Transactions

Sugar Land Space Cowboys activated SS Brice Matthews from the 7-day injured list.
Houston Astros invited non-roster SS Brice Matthews to spring training.
SS Brice Matthews assigned to Sugar Land Space Cowboys from Corpus Christi Hooks.
Corpus Christi Hooks activated SS Brice Matthews from the 7-day injured list.
Corpus Christi Hooks placed SS Brice Matthews on the 7-day injured list.
SS Brice Matthews assigned to Corpus Christi Hooks from Asheville Tourists.
Asheville Tourists activated SS Brice Matthews from the 7-day injured list.
Asheville Tourists sent SS Brice Matthews on a rehab assignment to FCL Astros.
Asheville Tourists placed SS Brice Matthews on the 7-day injured list.
SS Brice Matthews assigned to Asheville Tourists from Fayetteville Woodpeckers.
Fayetteville Woodpeckers activated SS Brice Matthews.
SS Brice Matthews assigned to Fayetteville Woodpeckers from FCL Astros.
SS Brice Matthews assigned to Fayetteville Woodpeckers from FCL Astros.
SS Brice Matthews assigned to FCL Astros.
Houston Astros signed SS Brice Matthews.

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