Matt Childers

Organization Prospect Rankings

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  Ranked Milwaukee Brewers #23 prospect in 2003
  Though his older brother Jason continues to outpitch him in the Brewers system, Matt continues to be regarded as the better prospect because he has more pure stuff. After a rough start in Double-A last year, Milwaukee moved him to the bullpen in hopes he would make better use of his fastball in a shorter role. His velocity jumped 2-3 mph to 94-95 when he worked in relief. As in the past, Childers struggled with his curveball and changeup, though his secondary pitches were less vital in his new role. Just as he was getting comfortable as a closer, Childers was promoted to the majors to work in long relief. He was overmatched against big league hitters but didn't seem to lose confidence. It's not certain where he'll start 2003 or what his role will be, but he made enough of an impression as a closer to earn a second chance at finishing games. If he continues to refine the splitter he has dabbled with, his chances of bullpen success will increase.
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  Ranked Milwaukee Brewers #10 prospect in 2002
  His older brother Jason has a career 30-31, 2.92 record in the Brewers system, while Matt has gone 27-45, 5.06 and got lit up at High Desert for much of 2001. Yet Matt is considered a far better prospect because of his potential as a power pitcher. He made a lot of progress in 2001, pitching better after he moved up to Huntsville. Childers is a big, strong guy who can get his fastball into the 95 mph neighborhood. He doesn't lose his cool often and bounces back from tough outings better than most pitchers. It's mainly a matter of trusting his stuff and not giving in to hitters. Childers is inconsistent with his curveball and gets the ball up too much, resulting in too many home runs. He also gets mechanically out of whack at times. He spent most of four years in Class A but appears finally ready to make a move. The Brewers showed Childers what they thought of him by sending him to the Arizona Fall League for more seasoning. If he pitches as well in Triple- A as he did in Double-A, he could be in the majors before 2002 is over. But the underachieving must end.
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  Ranked Milwaukee Brewers #16 prospect in 2001
  If raw ability and a strong arm were all it took to make it to the big leagues, Childers would be in the express lane. But after a successful first half at Beloit in 2000--his third stint in the Midwest League--he struggled in high Class A. In fact, Childers pitched much worse than his older brother Jason, a Mudville teammate who's not considered a prospect. Matt throws his fastball consistently in the low 90s and reaches 95 mph on occasion, but he gets the ball up too often and gives up the longball (10 in 85 innings at Mudville). He doesn't lose his cool often and bounces back from tough outings, but he must get his curveball over when behind in the count to keep hitters off his fastball. Childers probably will start 2001 back in the California League. At 23, it's time for him to get to Double-A and stop spinning his wheels.