Gary Matthews
| AB | 4103 |
|---|---|
| AVG | .257 |
| OBP | .332 |
| SLG | .405 |
| HR | 108 |
- Full name Gary Nathaniel Matthews Jr.
- Born 08/25/1974 in San Francisco, CA
- Profile Ht.: 6'3" / Wt.: 225 / Bats: S / Throws: R
- School Mission College
- Debut 06/04/1999
- Drafted in the 13th round (366th overall) by the San Diego Padres in 1993.
Top Rankings
Organization Prospect Rankings
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Background: Matthews, whose father played 16 years in the big leagues, has been poised for a breakout season the past two years but has been sidetracked by injuries--a right wrist problem in 1997 and a series of leg muscle woes in 1998. Matthews was impressive enough last year in a half season for Southern League managers to name him the league's No. 4 prospect. Strengths: Matthews improvement offensively has been steady. He is a line-drive hitter from both sides of the plate with an outstanding eye. He's above-average defensively in right field or center, especially in his jumps and instincts. Weaknesses: The biggest challenge for Matthews has been to stay on the field for an extended length of time. He has lost about 500 at-bats the last two seasons. He needs to continue to develop his power potential without sacrificing his hard-earned contact and patience. The Future: Ruben Rivera is no sure thing as the Padres center fielder for 1999 and beyond, although he is assured a long look. An uninterrupted season at Las Vegas this year will put Matthews in the future mix.
