There may be extra to Zebby Matthews’ sport than an elite strike-throwing skill, although he actually possesses that. As our lead prospect analyst Eric Longenhagen put it final summer season, the 24-year-old Minnesota Twins right-hander “has barely walked anybody the final half decade.” That wasn’t an exaggeration. Matthews issued one free cross each 9 innings as a collegian, and his stroll charge over 205 1/3 minor league frames is a Lilliputian 2.7%. Referred to as as much as the massive leagues final August, he proceeded to stroll simply 11 batters in 37 2/3 frames. That works out to 2.63 batters per 9 innings, or practically two extra walks per 9 than he had within the minors final 12 months, however don’t get too hung up on the small-sample spike.
In addition to, as I discussed up high, there’s extra to Matthews than what has garnered him probably the most consideration. Displaying higher stuff than many give him credit score for — his heater sits comfortably within the mid-90s — the 2022 eighth-round select of Western Carolina College logged a 30.5% strikeout charge final 12 months within the minors, and within the majors that quantity was 27.8%. Nonetheless rookie eligible and with an opportunity to interrupt camp within the Twins’ beginning rotation, Matthews is the group’s high pitching prospect.
Matthews mentioned the event of his underrated arsenal previous to a latest spring coaching sport.
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David Laurila: Let’s begin along with your pitches. What’s your full repertoire?
Zebby Matthews: “I’ve a four-seam fastball that has some first rate keep it up it, a cutter, a gyro slider, a curveball, and a changeup.”
Laurila: How a lot carry do you get in your fastball?
Matthews: “It relies on the beginning. Typically the axis kicks down a little bit bit, however in good begins I get 18-19 [inches] on common. When it’s not nearly as good, my wrist place is down a little bit, and as an alternative of a one o’clock or 1:15 axis, it’s round 1:30. These have a bit extra run than on my regular carry. I often spin it very effectively, although.”
Laurila: How has your arsenal modified since coming to professional ball?
Matthews: “Out of school, I threw each a cutter and a slider, though whereas the velo differed, the actions type of blended. Together with the fastball, these have been the one pitches I had. I suppose I had a changeup, however in my 4 years of school I may need thrown it twice, possibly thrice.”
Laurila: What have been the preliminary conversations you had with the group concerning your cutter and slider?
Matthews: “I already knew that they blended, and that hitters would be capable of [take advantage]. We performed across the first 12 months — my first full 12 months — attempting so as to add a sweeper, and simply preserve the cutter as is. However I struggled a little bit bit with the sweeper, so we went again to the drafting board. I used to be in a position to enhance the vert on the cutter, so we added again the gyro slider that I’d been throwing in school. With the ability to throw the gyro tougher was a purpose, and I’ve been in a position to do this to this point.”
Laurila: Are you able to elaborate on getting extra vertical on the cutter?
Matthews: “After I acquired to professional ball, I used to be throwing the cutter round six or seven [inches] vert — optimistic vert — and with some I might solely get like three or 4. As soon as we determined we have been going so as to add again the gyro slider, I knew that I wanted to kick the vert up on it. Now it’s often round 12 or 13.”
Laurila: How did you obtain that?
Matthews: “A grip adjustment. I caught the ball again in my hand a little bit bit. As an alternative of simply considering, ‘Get the center finger out entrance,’ I keep behind it a little bit extra; it’s type of like a fastball sort of really feel. Now I get about two or three [inches] glove facet.”
Laurila: What’s your greatest pitch?
Matthews: “Whichever one the hitter swings and misses at that day? I don’t know. That’s all the time a troublesome query. I prefer to assume the cutter, slider, and fastball are all good pitches. Clearly, you proceed to work on them — you need to make them higher — however these are undoubtedly three pitches that I really feel very assured in. I’m attempting to get that very same confidence with the curveball and the changeup.”
Laurila: I assume you discuss with Pete [Maki] and your different pitching coaches about sequencing?
Matthews: “Sure. Sequencing is a large piece of pitching. I don’t assume a whole lot of youthful guys arising essentially know [how to do it effectively]. It’s type of a discovered commerce. After I acquired to Triple-A there have been some veteran guys who helped train me how one can sequence pitches, how one can learn hitter’s swings, how one can use that to my benefit. It’s not one thing I felt I’d been doing an excellent job of. I’m nonetheless engaged on it.”
Laurila: How do you steadiness scouting experiences with figuring out how every of your pitches play greatest in sure zones?
Matthews: “How your pitches transfer, and what the information says about them, is clearly essential, however hitters are finally going to let you know in the event that they like a pitch or not. Each hitter has pitches he’s actually good with, and pitches he struggles with. So, it’s very hitter dependent. It may also be rely dependent. There are a whole lot of components. I don’t assume you’ll be able to simply spotlight one factor and be like, ‘OK, I can simply give attention to this and we’re going to be good.’ You’ve acquired to soak up all sides of it.”
Laurila: By and enormous, you’re a man who depends in your entire combine…
Matthews: “Yeah. I really feel like a whole lot of starters try this. You may have your elite starters who can go on the market and dominate with two pitches, however there’s a whole lot of a typical floor within the center the place you’re attempting to throw your full pitch combine and preserve hitters off steadiness. You employ that to your benefit.”
Laurila: These factor mentioned, is your stuff higher than lots of people assume?
Matthews: “I don’t actually know. I imply, finally you grade your stuff primarily based on what the hitters are telling you. If the hitters wrestle to hit it, you get some swing and miss, or they don’t hit it very exhausting, your pitches are performing effectively. So, I attempt to not look an excessive amount of into what individuals say about my combine. I don’t get caught up in any of that. I simply go on the market and do my greatest to get outs.”
