Ryan Mattheus
| IP | 198 |
|---|---|
| ERA | 3.727 |
| WHIP | 1.414 |
| BB/9 | 3.227 |
| SO/9 | 5.273 |
- Full name Ryan Arthur Mattheus
- Born 11/10/1983 in Sacramento, CA
- Profile Ht.: 6'3" / Wt.: 220 / Bats: R / Throws: R
- School Sacramento City College
- Debut 06/14/2011
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Drafted in the 19th round (557th overall) by the Colorado Rockies in 2003.
View Draft Report
LHP Phil Coke, a 25th-round pick of the Yankees in 2002, rivaled Nick Pesco as the state's best junior college prospect entering the season but has not played up to expectations. He's been passed by 6-foot-3, 210-pound RHP Ryan Mattheus, a 34th-round pick of the Rockies last year. Mattheus was the top arm at Sacramento City College, a traditional state power. He burst out of the gates with a 90-93 mph fastball that touched 95, and a plus slider.
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Brought over to big league camp during spring training when the Rockies needed an extra arm as insurance, Mattheus caught the attention of manager Clint Hurdle with his ability to consistently throw strikes. It led to the decision to move Mattheus from the rotation to the bullpen at Tulsa last year, and it worked. For the first time in four full professional seasons, he had an ERA below 5.00 and he showed the necessary resiliency to work late innings. His control also improved significantly, perhaps because he no longer needed to worry about a third pitch. He has a hard sinking fastball, a four-seamer that can reach 94 mph and a plus slider. His inability to develop a changeup or split-finger pitch has left him vulnerable to lefthanded hitters, who tagged him for a .318 average last year (compared to .210 for righthanders). Added to the 40-man roster, Mattheus will get a long look in the spring, but first he will have to prove he has overcome right shoulder tendinitis problems that forced him to come home early from the Arizona Fall League. -
The Rockies selected Mattheus (pronounced Matthews) in the 34th round out of high school in 2002, and then again in the 19th round the following year out of Sacramento CC. One of the top draft-and-follows in the spring of 2004, Mattheus gave up a commitment to Arizona State to sign for $700,000. He has yet to live up to that lofty bonus, perhaps because Colorado tried to change his motion. Mattheus had success as an amateur despite separating his hands very early in delivery, which isn't ideal but created some hesitation and deception. The Rockies tried to make his mechanics more fluid, but he was hit hard in low Class A last year. His raw stuff remains intriguing, however. Mattheus relies on a hard sinker-slider combination, and he can top out at 94 mph with a four-seam fastball. His changeup is below average. Colorado is now trying to help him regain his old delivery and may have him repeat low Class A.
