J.J. Matijevic

Organization Prospect Rankings

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  Ranked Houston Astros #24 prospect in 2019
  Track Record: The Astros believe in drafting bats, even if sometimes there are open questions about where the hitter can play passable defense. It was true when they drafted Tyler White, Abraham Toro, Seth Beer and Matijevic. Matijevic was seen as a solid hitter, but scouts saw him as a below-average defender at first base with few other defensive options. So far, that's been an accurate assessment. Matijevic's 22 home runs in 2018 with high Class A Buies Creek were third-most among Astros farmhands, but his defense remains a question.
  
  Scouting Report: Matijevic has an all-power, all-the-time approach as he looks for balls to hit over the fence. He makes it work with an eye to get pitches to hit, and he did show a better approach as the season wore on. Matijevic has plus power potential, but his sellout approach means it comes with below-average hitting ability. He has to do damage at the plate because Matijevic fits best as a designated hitter. A fringe-average runner, Matijevic's defense in left field is below-average at best and some scouts slap a 30 grade on it. He does have an average, accurate arm.
  
  The Future: Matijevic will head to Double-A Corpus Christi looking to work on improving his defense. If he can improve to fringe-average, he would be able to make a much better case for a big league job.
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  Ranked Houston Astros #26 prospect in 2018
  In high school, Matijevic battled with Brendan McKay for the title of most promising prospect in the Pittsburgh area. Matijevic's first two seasons at Arizona were not particularly notable. He failed to hit .300 in either season and he showed little power. But after tweaking his approach and swing--changing a leg kick to a toe tap and finishing more uphill--Matijevic hit .387 as a junior while leading Division I with 30 doubles. Matijevic is a pretty pure hitter, but he's long been comped to John Jaso as a first baseman with modest power. When the Astros drafted Matijevic, they announced him as a second baseman, a position he had practiced in the Cape Cod League. But Matijevic, a high school shortstop, played only left field and first base in his pro debut, and he's likely to focus on left field for now. He's unlikely to be more than a fringe-average defender in left thanks to below-average speed and slow feet, but if he hits like the Astros expect, that would be sufficient. Matijevic let too many hittable pitches go early in counts in his pro debut, but his feel for the barrel should allow him to hit for average and get on base. He has enough strength and explosive bat speed to hit for at least average power as well.

Draft Prospects

• Ranked #70 prospect in 2017 draft
  Part of the same Pennsylvania prep class that produced Louisville two-way star Brendan McKay, Matijevic moved down the defensive spectrum immediately after making the sojourn across the country to Arizona. He's played a lot of DH and first base for the Wildcats, and while he has plenty of arm strength, his footwork around the bag is fringy. He runs well enough to give left field a shot but will need work if a team wants him to play the outfield. A confident hitter with some swagger to his game, Matijevic was punishing Pac-12 pitching in 2017, leading the Wildcats and ranking second nationally in batting (.415) and hits (80 in 47 games). Matijevic has strength and plus bat speed, with a swing tailor-made to take advantage of the spacious gaps at Arizona's Hi Corbett Field. The strong-bodied lefthanded hitter uses the opposite field well and may hit for more home run power as he adjusts his approach to pull and loft the ball. Otherwise, he's a hit-over-power first baseman in the John Jaso mold. While he's shown the ability to drive the ball at times--he was leading the nation in doubles through mid-May--Matijevic lacks the true first-base profile but he's having an exceptional season, which could push him into the second or early third round.
• Ranked #180 prospect in 2014 draft
  Matijevic, a staple on the showcase circuit, has risen up draft boards along with another Pittsburgh-area prep this spring, lefthander Brendan McKay, as a lefthanded power bat. The 6-foot, 211-pound Matijevic is a physical specimen with strength throughout his extra-large frame, and he has firmed up his body this spring. A high school shortstop, he'll move off the position immediately to third base, where he can make the routine plays and has at least an average arm. But he's a below-average runner and most scouts think his best long-term defensive fit is first base, where his bat could play. He has a strong stroke with bat speed and a chance to hit for average, with above-average raw power. He can tend to swing and miss when searching for power. He's committed to Arizona.

Minor League Top Prospects

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  Ranked Carolina League #19 prospect in 2018
  The Astros believe in drafting bats and sorting out where they will play along the way. It was true when they drafted Tyler White (who has turned himself into a surprisingly versatile infielder), it was true when they drafted Seth Beer this year and it was true when they drafted Matijevic. The chiseled Matijevic has strength and he can hit. He easily led Buies Creek with 19 home runs, fifth in the league, and finished fourth in the league with 42 extra-base hits. He showed all-fields power and a prototypical Astros’ swing that leads to lots of long fly balls. Some scouts worry he’s too much of a mistake hitter and his strikeout rate was a touch high, but he impacts the ball with authority when he connects. Despite early discussions of trying him at second base, Matijevic has been largely limited to left field as a pro and he’s below-average there. He doesn’t run well and projects better as a first baseman for most observers. Matijevic might have the bat for it, but he’d be best served improving his outfield defense.

• April, 2022 Scouting Report
  BA Grade: 45/High
  
  Track Record: Drafted out of high school by the Red Sox in the 22nd round of the 2014 draft, Matijevic honored his commitment to Arizona and was a member of the 2016 team that lost to Coastal Carolina in the national championship. He starred in the Cape Cod League for Falmouth, hitting .377/.449/.553 over 23 games. The Astros drafted him in the second round of the 2017 draft and he made his major league debut this year.
  
  Scouting Report: Early in his professional career, Matijevic sold out his approach for power, and it led to high strikeout totals with below-average walk rates. As he&#39s progressed over the last few seasons he first found a balance between power and approach in 2021, and has taken a step forward as a contact hitter in 2022, cutting his whiff rate substantially. He&#39s done this without sacrificing power, as his top 10% of batted balls average over 105 mph. He&#39s logged time at first base and left field and is likely best in a part-time defensive role at either spot.
  
  The Future: An older prospect who&#39s always been productive at each stop of his professional career, in 2022 Matijevic debuted in the major leagues and took a step forward as a hitter. In order for the profile to work, Matijevic will once again have to prove the power and contact gains of the last few years have not been a fluke.