IP 156
ERA 4.615
WHIP 1.744
BB/9 7.615
SO/9 8.423
  • Full name Kevin Francis Matthews
  • Born 11/29/1992 in Edenton, NC
  • Profile Ht.: 5'11" / Wt.: 180 / Bats: R / Throws: L
  • School Richmond Hill
  • Drafted in the 1st round (33rd overall) by the Texas Rangers in 2011 (signed for $936,000).
    View Draft Report
    In a down year for Georgia, high school pitching was particularly weak. Matthews jumped out, and not just because his athleticism allows him to dunk a basketball despite his 5-foot-10, 160-pound frame. He's a slight but quick-armed pitcher whose fastball has touched 94-95 mph, though he's usually in the 87-90 range. He has not shown the ability to sustain above-average velocity with any consistency. His tight curveball gives him a solid-average secondary pitch. He hasn't shown much of a changeup. Matthews' handle on Twitter is "UVAbound11," which gives a hint at the strength his Virginia commitment. While some scouts compare him to such recent draft picks as Kasey Kiker and Robbie Ross (both now in the Rangers system), others liken him more to lefthanded relievers such as Billy Wagner (obviously with less velocity). The consensus is that he's a future reliever due to the effort in his delivery.

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