Matthew Sweeney

Organization Prospect Rankings

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  Ranked Tampa Bay Rays #24 prospect in 2010
  Overlooked in the 2006 draft, Sweeney signed with the Angels for $75,000 as an eighth-rounder and quickly established himself as one of the top power hitters in their system. But he hurt his ankle when he was hit by a pitch at the end of the 2007 season, and subsequent surgery to remove bone chips and repair ligament damage cost him all of 2008. His bat was as potent as ever when he returned last season, though he missed two months with a chipped bone in his hip. His injury history didn't scare off the Rays, who acquired him as part of the Scott Kazmir trade in August. With his strength and balance and the loft in his swing, Sweeney is primed to do a lot of damage at the plate. He has good pitch-recognition skills, though he can get very aggressive at the plate. He had below-average speed, agility and defensive ability before he got hurt, and the injuries haven't helped. He has enough arm to play third base, but he has a career .860 fielding percentage at the hot corner and most scouts project him as a first baseman. Tampa Bay wants to see him play a full, healthy season in Double-A before determining his defensive home.
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  Ranked Los Angeles Angels #18 prospect in 2009
  Sweeney established himself as one of the system's best power hitters in his first two pro seasons, but he missed all of 2008 with an ankle injury. He originally hurt the ankle when he was hit by a pitch at the end of 2007, and it bothered him throughout spring training. The Angels originally hoped he'd miss just a month, but he eventually had surgery to remove bone chips and repair ligament damage. When he was healthy, Sweeney's power rivaled that of Brandon Wood, Mark Trumbo and Hank Conger. He recognizes pitches well and swings aggressively, with good loft in his stroke. His size, thick forearms and well-balanced lower half are suited for driving the ball. He's not fooled too often, though he could stand to draw more walks and use the whole field more. Sweeney lacked agility and had below-average speed before he got hurt, and the injury could cost him on both counts. Though he has a solid arm, few scouts gave him a chance to remain at third base long term because of his substandard range and reliability. He had an .850 fielding percentage and 48 errors in 127 games at the hot corner. If Sweeney has lost even half a step, he could be moving to first base sooner rather than later. Los Angeles would like to push him to Double-A at some point in 2009, perhaps even out of spring training.
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  Ranked Los Angeles Angels #17 prospect in 2008
  Sweeney's $75,000 signing bonus was a pittance considering the upside he offers at the plate. A standout football player in high school, Sweeney shed 30 pounds during his senior season in 2006 and got off to a blistering beginning in his first full professional season. He hit safely in his first 17 games, posting a .349/.324/.458 April before finishing fifth in the Midwest League with 18 home runs. Only Brandon Wood and Hank Conger rival Sweeney's thunder with the bat among Halos prospects. Balls fly off his barrel with loft and carry to all fields, and one scout described his approach as smart and fearless. He hit .272 with three homers off lefties. His aggressiveness often leads to empty swings. Sweeney gets rotational and has a habit of using his arms and shoulders too much during his swing. He's pull-happy at times, too. He doesn't run well and he's a rigid defender. Sweeney's .862 fielding percentage was the lowest of any of the league's regular third basemen, and he's more likely to break into the big leagues as a first baseman or DH. His solid-average arm will play fine wherever he winds up. He needs to make conditioning more of a priority, and Sweeney was sent home from instructional league for undisclosed reasons. He's ticketed for high Class A this season.
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  Ranked Los Angeles Angels #16 prospect in 2007
  Late-round steals typically are accompanied by generous signing bonuses, but when the Angels drafted Sweeney in the eighth round last June, they signed him for $75,000. He earned little attention in suburban Washington D.C. and had committed to Potomac State (W.Va.) JC, but area scout Dan Radcliff and East Coast crosschecker Marc Russo (now a major league scout) loved Sweeney's swing. A standout football star, as well, Sweeney lost 30 pounds before his senior season. Sweeney has plus bat speed and leverage to his swing, which he repeats well. He has a knack for squaring up the ball, is selective and has strong pitch recognition skills. He split time between catcher and DH in high school, but he likely will wind up at first base. He's heavy-footed and somewhat stiff defensively, with hard hands. He has solid-average arm strength. His uncle works for the NFL's Washington Redskins, and Sweeney worked with 'Skins receiver James Thrash on his agility. He's a below-average runner but goes first to third adequately. He should spend 2007 at Orem, though his bat could earn him a promotion to low Class A at some point during the year.

Minor League Top Prospects

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  Ranked Arizona Complex League #6 prospect in 2006
  Sweeney was lightly recruited out of a Maryland high school and had committed to play for Potomac State (W.Va.) Junior College. Area scout Dan Radcliff noted that Sweeney was getting in better shape, losing 30 pounds during his senior season, and successfully lobbied the Angels to take him in the eighth round. Sweeney was the league's best hitter after Hunter and showed considerable power potential as well. He has an advanced ability to recognize pitches, which came in handy when pitchers fed him a steady diet of breaking balls after his fast start. Thanks to quick wrists and a sound swing, he has the bat speed to turn on good fastballs. The catch: Sweeney doesn't have a true position. A catcher/DH in high school, he struggled with a move to third base despite working on his defense. Most managers thought he'd be adequate at best at the hot corner, but believed he would hit enough for a move to first base.

• December, 2006 Scouting Report
  Late-round steals typically are accompanied by generous signing bonuses, but when the Angels drafted Sweeney in the eighth round last June, they signed him for $75,000. He earned little attention in suburban Washington D.C. and had committed to Potomac State (W.Va.) JC, but area scout Dan Radcliff and East Coast crosschecker Marc Russo (now a major league scout) loved Sweeney's swing. A standout football star, as well, Sweeney lost 30 pounds before his senior season. Sweeney has plus bat speed and leverage to his swing, which he repeats well. He has a knack for squaring up the ball, is selective and has strong pitch recognition skills. He split time between catcher and DH in high school, but he likely will wind up at first base. He's heavy-footed and somewhat stiff defensively, with hard hands. He has solid-average arm strength. His uncle works for the NFL's Washington Redskins, and Sweeney worked with 'Skins receiver James Thrash on his agility. He's a below-average runner but goes first to third adequately. He should spend 2007 at Orem, though his bat could earn him a promotion to low Class A at some point during the year.