John Matulia
| AB | 2369 |
|---|---|
| AVG | .253 |
| OBP | .31 |
| SLG | .355 |
| HR | 30 |
- Full name John Kenneth Matulia
- Born 08/19/1986 in Thomaston, GA
- Profile Ht.: 6'0" / Wt.: 175 / Bats: L / Throws: L
- School Eustis
- Drafted in the 10th round (298th overall) by the Tampa Bay Rays in 2005 (signed for $75,000).
Top Rankings
Organization Prospect Rankings
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One Devil Rays coach describes Matulia as "tougher than a one-dollar steak." A 10th-round pick last June, he signed for $75,000 after making it clear he wanted to play for Tampa Bay. Matulia's family has a long relationship with Tim Wilken, the scouting director who drafted him (and who since has departed for the Cubs). Wilken scouted John's father Mike, the head coach at Lake Sumter (Fla.) Community College, when he played at The Citadel in the early 1980s. The fact that Matulia was raised in a baseball family is evident in his hard nosed approach to the game. He's a tough out who makes sharp contact. He has above-average speed that should allow him to develop into a catalyst atop the lineup. His power should develop as his body matures, yet his game centers around getting on base with his keen batting eye and good strike-zone discipline. His instincts in the outfield make him a natural center fielder. Matulia needs to learn the nuances of baserunning after getting caught stealing in 10 of his 18 pro attempts, and upgrading his bunting ability would boost his stock as a leadoff hitter. After showing little difficulty making the adjustment to pro ball, Matulia should spend a full season in low Class A this year.
Minor League Top Prospects
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Though a strained hamstring kept him sidelined for five weeks, Matulia left a lasting impression. The leadoff prospect would have ranked second in the league with his .437 on-base percentage had he accumulated enough plate appearances to qualify. Managers liked the gritty Matulia's batting eye, speed and center-field play. He's still learning to use his quickness on the bases, however, as he succeeded on just eight of 18 steal attempts. "The kid has a bright future," Nelson said. "He's a well-above average center fielder, whose defense we really missed when he got hurt. Offensively, he's a catalyst. He was just always on base."
