Matt Nevarez
| IP | 286 |
|---|---|
| ERA | 4.406 |
| WHIP | 1.517 |
| BB/9 | 6.608 |
| SO/9 | 10.133 |
- Full name Matthew Andrew Nevarez
- Born 02/26/1987 in Mission Hills, CA
- Profile Ht.: 6'4" / Wt.: 220 / Bats: R / Throws: R
- School San Fernando
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Drafted in the 10th round (309th overall) by the Texas Rangers in 2005 (signed for $58,000).
View Draft Report
The draft isn't always about selecting players where their talent warrants. Some players go earlier because they have little leverage and won't cost teams much to sign; others slide because of their price tags or college commitments. Nevarez is an example of the former. A big, strong pitcher capable of throwing 92-93 mph, he has no four-year college options and should be a prime target for a team looking for value in the first five rounds. Nevarez has makeup issues that concern some clubs, but he has good athletic ability. He played football and basketball for four years in high school, and was an all-city quarterback and punter in Los Angeles. He also plays in the outfield when he doesn't pitch. His pitching skills are unrefined. He averaged almost a walk an inning and struggles with his control, but scouts are intrigued with his arm strength and projection because he's tall and loose.
Top Rankings
Organization Prospect Rankings
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Though Nevarez was old for low Class A as a 22-year-old in 2009, his power arm intrigued the Astros enough that they asked for him in the Ivan Rodriguez trade that also yielded second-base prospect Jose Vallejo last August. After the deal, Nevarez struck out 13 in eight scoreless innings. A good athlete for his size, he throws 93-95 mph fastballs on a steep downhill plane. His best secondary pitch is a short 82-83 mph slider, and he'll mix in an occasional changeup. Nevarez has a compact delivery, but there's some stiffness and effort involved. His control improved significantly in 2009 but remains below-average. Added to the 40-man roster in November, he could be a useful big league reliever if he improves his slider. He'll tackle high Class A in 2010.
Minor League Top Prospects
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The Pirates didn't sign many indy players this year, but they made the ones they did sign count. In addition to Holdzkom, Nevarez had plenty of success in a brief stint with Double-A Altoona at the end of the year, going 1-1, 1.35 in six appearances. A well-traveled righthander who has spent time in the Rangers, Astros and Rays organizations, Nevarez's fastball sits at 93-96 mph. He's developed a useful 87-90 mph cutter with good late life and a decent changeup when he stays on top of it.
