Astros’ Brice Matthews Hits His Way To Precipice Of MLB
When Astros GM Dana Brown was asked about prospects who could help the big league team next season, the first player he mentioned was 22-year-old shortstop Brice Matthews.
Matthews took big steps forward in his first full pro season after the Astros—his hometown team—drafted him in the first round out of Tennessee in 2023.
“We really like the way Brice Matthews has been playing,” Brown said. “He’s in Triple-A . . . He’s showing some power. (We) just have to refine his skill set in terms of defense.”
Matthews played for three Astros affiliates in 2024: High-A Asheville, Double-A Corpus Christi and Triple-A Sugar Land. He produced an .865 OPS with 15 home runs overall, but at the upper levels he hit .229/.349/.423 with nine homers and 20 stolen bases in 56 games.
A return to Sugar Land is probable after he spent just 12 games at Triple-A in 2024.
Defensively, Matthews played 21 games at third base and 48 at shortstop. He also served as DH eight times.
The Astros are set at shortstop with Jeremy Peña, but they may need a third baseman if Alex Bregman departs via free agency.
Houston has been here before. It turned over shortstop to Peña after Carlos Correa left as a free agent. Kyle Tucker succeeded free agent departure George Springer as the club’s big outfield bat.
Matthews could be the next one to hit his way into the Astros’ lineup.
SPACE SHOTS
— In addition to Matthews, Brown also mentioned outfielder Jacob Melton and righthander Ryan Gusto, both of whom finished at Triple-A, as potential 2025 contributors. Gusto was expected to make his MLB debut before the season finale was rained out.
“Melton’s another guy who could be a big piece for us,” Brown said. “He’s a really good defensive outfielder with power. Those two guys really have a chance to make some type of impact (in 2025).”
