Nick Maton

Organization Prospect Rankings

• 
  Ranked Philadelphia Phillies #20 prospect in 2022
  Track Record: A 2017 seventh-rounder out of Lincoln Land (Ill.) Community College, Maton signed for $353,400, quickly made his Double-A debut two years later and impressed at the alternate training site in 2020. Maton struggled mightily at Triple-A this season, hitting .199 in 206 at-bats, but held his own in the big leagues with a .256 average in 117 at-bats.
  
  Scouting Report: Maton’s development took a step forward in 2020 at the alternate site, as he stood out for his improved pitch recognition and made harder contact against advanced arms. His development backed up this year, as he struggled mightily against offspeeds, with a high chase rate. Maton has no trouble handling high velocity, but major league pitchers were able to neutralize him with spin. Maton makes solid contact and projects to be a fringe-average hitter, with line-to-line power that shouldn’t lead to more than 10-15 home runs in the big leagues. He’s improved his range at shortstop, and has the ability to play there, second base and third base, with an above-average arm. He’s an average runner. Maton likely won’t hit enough to be more than a reserve infielder, but his defensive ability gives him value.
  
  The Future: Maton will likely start the 2022 season at Triple-A, where he’ll look to improve upon his 2021 stint.
• 
  Ranked Philadelphia Phillies #10 prospect in 2021
  Hitting: 50. Power: 40. Run: 50. Fielding: 55. Arm: 55.
  TRACK RECORD: Maton, whose older brother Phil is an Indians reliever, signed with the Phillies for just over $350,000 as a seventh-round pick in 2017 and sped past many players taken ahead of him. He reached Double-A in 2019, then impressed during spring training in 2020 and spent the summer at the alternate training site facing older pitchers.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Maton is a solid athlete with a knack for catching up to velocity. He’s an average hitter from the left side who gets on base at a solid clip. The ball jumped off his bat at the alternate site, and the Phillies felt he improved his pitch recognition facing more advanced pitchers. Maton’s power is mostly to the gaps, but he’s shown enough power to project 10-12 home runs as he adds strength to his frame. Maton is an above-average defender at shortstop who has worked hard to improve his range. He has the above-average arm strength to play the left side of the infield and saw time at both third base and second base at the alternate site. He earns high marks for his makeup, instincts and routine.
  
  THE FUTURE: Maton has the tools and mindset to be a useful, versatile infielder in the major leagues. He will likely return to Double-A in 2021.
• 
  Ranked Philadelphia Phillies #10 prospect in 2020
  TRACK RECORD: Maton's older brother Phil starred at Louisiana Tech and made it to the Padres' bullpen just two years after he was drafted. Younger brother Jacob is a pitcher at Coastal Carolina. Nick transferred to Lincoln Land (Ill.) JC after a solid freshman season at Eastern Illinois.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Maton needs to continue to get stronger, but he's developed some wiry power, giving him a chance to hit 10-12 home runs down the road. Maton's bat speed is average, but he's consistently shown that he can catch up to premium velocity —in fact he seems to prefer when a pitcher tries to blow him away. Maton has gone from being a reliable defender with limited range to a reliable defender with average range at second or shortstop who can sometimes make a highlight-level play. His above-average arm plays up because of a quick release and a good internal clock.
  
  THE FUTURE: Maton's excellent makeup, heady play and steady improvement give him a shot to be at least a solid and versatile backup, and you can find evaluators who believe he will top those expectations. He'll return to Double-A Reading.

• April, 2022 Scouting Report
  BA Grade: 40/High
  
  Track Record: A 2017 seventh-rounder out of Lincoln Land (Ill.) Community College, Maton signed for $353,400, quickly made his Double-A debut two years later and impressed at the alternate training site in 2020. Maton struggled mightily at Triple-A this season, hitting .199 in 206 at-bats, but held his own in the big leagues with a .256 average in 117 at-bats.
  
  Scouting Report: Maton&#39s development took a step forward in 2020 at the alternate site, as he stood out for his improved pitch recognition and made harder contact against advanced arms. His development backed up this year, as he struggled mightily against offspeeds, with a high chase rate. Maton has no trouble handling high velocity, but major league pitchers were able to neutralize him with spin. Maton makes solid contact and projects to be a fringe-average hitter, with line-to-line power that shouldn&#39t lead to more than 10-15 home runs in the big leagues. He&#39s improved his range at shortstop, and has the ability to play there, second base and third base, with an above-average arm. He&#39s an average runner. Maton likely won&#39t hit enough to be more than a reserve infielder, but his defensive ability gives him value.
  
  The Future: Maton will likely start the 2022 season at Triple-A, where he&#39ll look to improve upon his 2021 stint.
• December, 2021 Scouting Report
  Track Record: A 2017 seventh-rounder out of Lincoln Land (Ill.) Community College, Maton signed for $353,400, quickly made his Double-A debut two years later and impressed at the alternate training site in 2020. Maton struggled mightily at Triple-A this season, hitting .199 in 206 at-bats, but held his own in the big leagues with a .256 average in 117 at-bats.
  
  Scouting Report: Maton’s development took a step forward in 2020 at the alternate site, as he stood out for his improved pitch recognition and made harder contact against advanced arms. His development backed up this year, as he struggled mightily against offspeeds, with a high chase rate. Maton has no trouble handling high velocity, but major league pitchers were able to neutralize him with spin. Maton makes solid contact and projects to be a fringe-average hitter, with line-to-line power that shouldn’t lead to more than 10-15 home runs in the big leagues. He’s improved his range at shortstop, and has the ability to play there, second base and third base, with an above-average arm. He’s an average runner. Maton likely won’t hit enough to be more than a reserve infielder, but his defensive ability gives him value.
  
  The Future: Maton will likely start the 2022 season at Triple-A, where he’ll look to improve upon his 2021 stint.
• July, 2021 Scouting Report
  Hitting: 50. Power: 40. Run: 50. Fielding: 55. Arm: 55.
  TRACK RECORD: Maton, whose older brother Phil is an Indians reliever, signed with the Phillies for just over $350,000 as a seventh-round pick in 2017 and sped past many players taken ahead of him. He reached Double-A in 2019, then impressed during spring training in 2020 and spent the summer at the alternate training site facing older pitchers.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Maton is a solid athlete with a knack for catching up to velocity. He's an average hitter from the left side who gets on base at a solid clip. The ball jumped off his bat at the alternate site, and the Phillies felt he improved his pitch recognition facing more advanced pitchers. Maton's power is mostly to the gaps, but he's shown enough power to project 10-12 home runs as he adds strength to his frame. Maton is an above-average defender at shortstop who has worked hard to improve his range. He has the above-average arm strength to play the left side of the infield and saw time at both third base and second base at the alternate site. He earns high marks for his makeup, instincts and routine.
  
  THE FUTURE: Maton has the tools and mindset to be a useful, versatile infielder in the major leagues. He will likely return to Double-A in 2021.
• March, 2021 Scouting Report
  Hitting: 50. Power: 40. Run: 50. Fielding: 55. Arm: 55.
  TRACK RECORD: Maton, whose older brother Phil is an Indians reliever, signed with the Phillies for just over $350,000 as a seventh-round pick in 2017 and sped past many players taken ahead of him. He reached Double-A in 2019, then impressed during spring training in 2020 and spent the summer at the alternate training site facing older pitchers.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Maton is a solid athlete with a knack for catching up to velocity. He’s an average hitter from the left side who gets on base at a solid clip. The ball jumped off his bat at the alternate site, and the Phillies felt he improved his pitch recognition facing more advanced pitchers. Maton’s power is mostly to the gaps, but he’s shown enough power to project 10-12 home runs as he adds strength to his frame. Maton is an above-average defender at shortstop who has worked hard to improve his range. He has the above-average arm strength to play the left side of the infield and saw time at both third base and second base at the alternate site. He earns high marks for his makeup, instincts and routine.
  
  THE FUTURE: Maton has the tools and mindset to be a useful, versatile infielder in the major leagues. He will likely return to Double-A in 2021.
• December, 2020 Scouting Report
  Hitting: 50. Power: 40. Run: 50. Fielding: 55. Arm: 55.
  TRACK RECORD: Maton, whose older brother Phil is an Indians reliever, signed with the Phillies for just over $350,000 as a seventh-round pick in 2017 and sped past many players taken ahead of him. He reached Double-A in 2019, then impressed during spring training in 2020 and spent the summer at the alternate training site facing older pitchers.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Maton is a solid athlete with a knack for catching up to velocity. He’s an average hitter from the left side who gets on base at a solid clip. The ball jumped off his bat at the alternate site, and the Phillies felt he improved his pitch recognition facing more advanced pitchers. Maton’s power is mostly to the gaps, but he’s shown enough power to project 10-12 home runs as he adds strength to his frame. Maton is an above-average defender at shortstop who has worked hard to improve his range. He has the above-average arm strength to play the left side of the infield and saw time at both third base and second base at the alternate site. He earns high marks for his makeup, instincts and routine.
  
  THE FUTURE: Maton has the tools and mindset to be a useful, versatile infielder in the major leagues. He will likely return to Double-A in 2021.
• July, 2020 Scouting Report
  TRACK RECORD: Maton’s older brother Phil starred at Louisiana Tech and made it to the Padres’ bullpen just two years after he was drafted. Younger brother Jacob is a pitcher at Coastal Carolina. Nick transferred to Lincoln Land (Ill.) JC after a solid freshman season at Eastern Illinois.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Maton needs to continue to get stronger, but he’s developed some wiry power, giving him a chance to hit 10-12 home runs down the road. Maton’s bat speed is average, but he’s consistently shown that he can catch up to premium velocity —in fact he seems to prefer when a pitcher tries to blow him away. Maton has gone from being a reliable defender with limited range to a reliable defender with average range at second or shortstop who can sometimes make a highlight-level play. His above-average arm plays up because of a quick release and a good internal clock.
  
  THE FUTURE: Maton’s excellent makeup, heady play and steady improvement give him a shot to be at least a solid and versatile backup, and you can find evaluators who believe he will top those expectations. He’ll return to Double-A Reading.
• February, 2020 Scouting Report
  TRACK RECORD: Maton's older brother Phil starred at Louisiana Tech and made it to the Padres' bullpen just two years after he was drafted. Younger brother Jacob is a pitcher at Coastal Carolina. Nick transferred to Lincoln Land (Ill.) JC after a solid freshman season at Eastern Illinois.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Maton needs to continue to get stronger, but he's developed some wiry power, giving him a chance to hit 10-12 home runs down the road. Maton's bat speed is average, but he's consistently shown that he can catch up to premium velocity —in fact he seems to prefer when a pitcher tries to blow him away. Maton has gone from being a reliable defender with limited range to a reliable defender with average range at second or shortstop who can sometimes make a highlight-level play. His above-average arm plays up because of a quick release and a good internal clock.
  
  THE FUTURE: Maton's excellent makeup, heady play and steady improvement give him a shot to be at least a solid and versatile backup, and you can find evaluators who believe he will top those expectations. He'll return to Double-A Reading.