Matt Riley Stats & Scouting Report

IP	97
ERA	6.031
WHIP	1.773
BB/9	6.68
SO/9	7.237

Full name Matthew Paul Riley
Born 08/02/1979 in Antioch, CA
Profile Ht.: 6'1" / Wt.: 225 / Bats: L / Throws: L
School Sacramento City College
Debut 09/09/1999
Drafted in the 3rd round (105th overall) by the Baltimore Orioles in 1997.

Top Rankings

Organization Prospect Rankings

After the obligatory year of mediocre performance following Tommy John surgery, Riley showed the form that made him the organization's top prospect entering 1999 and 2000. He finished the season with two strong starts against the Blue Jays in September and has regained his old stuff. His fastball sits in the low 90s and touches 94, and his big curveball is an out pitch. His changeup has improved significantly, as he has command of all three pitches. Immaturity held him back before his injury, but Riley showed more focus and determination after the heat-related death of close friend Steve Bechler in spring training. Riley had trouble repeating his delivery in the past but seems to have straightened his mechanics out. All that's left is to polish his command and feel for pitching. The organization's higher expectations on and off the field have helped Riley get ready for the big leagues. He'll go to spring training with a chance to win a job in Baltimore's rotation.
Riley sat atop this list in 1999 and 2000, but it all fell apart in big league camp the latter year. He didn't perform well and lost more points for his immature behavior. He injured his elbow late in the season and required Tommy John surgery. After missing all of 2001, Riley was erratic in his return to action last season in Double-A. Perhaps more important, though, he pitched the entire season with few problems. He did miss a start with a blister on his thumb and was shut down a bit early with shoulder soreness, but overall his arm seemed sound. The organization considered sending him to the Arizona Fall League but decided to give him the winter off. Riley showed flashes of the form that made him a top prospect, which includes a mid-90s fastball and a curveball that's one of the best breaking pitches in the organization. But his mechanics were often out of whack, which meant he lost velocity on his fastball, didn't have the sharp break on his curve and couldn't develop consistent command. He improved when roving pitching coordinator Dave Schmidt took over as Bowie's pitching coach at midseason, and in his next-to-last start of the season he struck out 10, walked one and gave up two hits in 6 1/3 innings against Erie. Riley is still just 23, so the Orioles will be patient with him as he tries to return to form. They may send him back to Double-A to open the season.
Following a disastrous 2000 season that began with immature behavior in major league camp and ended with Tommy John surgery, Riley spent all of 2001 rehabilitating his left elbow. He's expected to be ready for spring training in 2002, and by most accounts he has looked good in Florida workouts. When healthy, Riley throws a fastball that touches 97 mph, along with a curveball and changeup that also could be plus pitches in the major leagues. His delivery has looked more free and easy since the surgery, which bodes well for staying away from future injuries. Immaturity was Riley's biggest problem before he got hurt, and the injury may have helped him overcome that. He worked hard in rehab and should come to spring training in the best shape of his career. As with any injured pitcher, he'll have to prove his arm is sound and make up for two lost years. If Riley bounces back to pre-injury form, he gives the Orioles another premium lefty prospect. With the positive reports on his rehab, the organization is optimistic. Even so, he'll probably start off in Double-A unless he's overwhelming in spring training.
You'd be hard-pressed to find anyone who had a worse year in 2000 than Riley. Invited to big league spring training, he showed his immaturity by arriving late for workouts and drawing the ire of manager Mike Hargrove. Sent back to the minors, he pitched ineffectively before arm trouble ended his season. He had Tommy John surgery in September. When healthy, Riley has three above-average pitches and is the organization's only true premium prospect. His fastball tops out in the mid-90s, and he has a big-breaking curveball and deceptive changeup. He also has an aggressive approach. While Tommy John surgery doesn't carry the stigma it used to, it's still a significant bump in a pitcher's career. Riley's maturity will be sorely tested as he goes through the rehabilitation process. The Orioles hope he can return to action by midseason, though that may be optimistic. If he can get in minor league innings in 2001, he'll get another big league shot in 2002.
Background: Prior to his senior season in 1997 at Liberty Union High in the north Bay Area, Riley was considered a probable first-round draft choice. He didn't throw well his senior year, though, and dropped to the Orioles in the third round. With visions of first-round money in his mind, Riley choose to attend Sacramento City College and reenter the draft if the Orioles didn't offer him more money following the season. Under the tutelage of Sac City coach Jerry Weinstein, Riley regained his previous form and Orioles scout Ed Sprague, who has signed Orioles first-round picks such as Mike Mussina and Jeffrey Hammonds, was able to ink Riley to a $750,000 contract. The Orioles sent Riley straight to the South Atlantic League, which proved a mismatch in Riley's favor. His 1.19 ERA and 136 strikeouts in 83 innings made for one of the best debuts in memory. Strengths: Riley has pure lefthanded power stuff. His fastball reaches 95 mph with good cutting and riding life but his strikeout pitch is a high 70s overhand curveball with tremendous bite and deception. Riley's changeup is also well developed considering his age. The Orioles praise Riley for his makeup and baseball aptitude. One development official said, "He's a baseball player, a yard rat type. He doesn't get rattled in tough situations because he's at home in the baseball enviornment." Riley is also a good athlete who will be able to help himself in the field and with the bat. Weaknesses: Whatever weaknesses Riley might possess haven't been evident as a professional. He walked 44 hitters in his 83 innings, but given how difficult he was to make contact with, many of those were undoubtably the result of just having to throw too many pitches to a hitter or Class A umpires being overmatched by his curveball. Scouts felt that Riley became too emotional in high school and his mechanics would break down, a problem he has obviously solved in the Orioles eyes. The Future: The Orioles are undecided on where to start Riley in 1999 but it will most likely be at Double-A Bowie. They figure there is no reason to have the 19-year-old Riley overmatch A ball hitters any longer than necessary if he is healthy and throwing well. Riley's closest comparison in baseball today is probably Rich Ankiel, the Cardinals 19-year-old lefthanded phenom.

Minor League Top Prospects

No lefthander in the league other than Portland's Michael Tejera had more wins and a better ERA than Riley, who started the season in Class A. And no one was more competitive. "He's a very intense young man," said Trenton manager DeMarlo Hale. "You're talking about a lefty with a 90-something fastball. He's coming at you. You can see it in his makeup. "One thing I like is that he's not afraid of contact with his fastball. He can be down 3-1 in the count and throw the fastball. I like that aggressiveness in him. And he has a curveball that's very effective."
The top prospect in the Orioles system, Riley quickly earned a promotion to Double-A and received a big league callup when rosters were expanded in September. If Riley feels any pressure from moving so rapidly through the Orioles system, it wasn't apparent on the mound. A self-described free spirit, he made the postseason all-star teams in both the Carolina and Eastern leagues. He was also chosen to the inaugural Futures Game roster. "He's a young kid who simply has great stuff," Terrell said. "He's going to be a good one." While fans tend to talk more about Riley's facial piercings and tattoos, opposing hitters and managers are more inclined to marvel over his inside fastball and an armpit-to-ankle breaking ball that he'll throw any time in the count.