Jeff Mathis

Organization Prospect Rankings

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  Ranked Los Angeles Angels #7 prospect in 2007
  The Angels didn't expect considerable offensive production out of Mathis when they broke camp with him penciled in as a platoon partner for Jose Molina, but manager Mike Scioscia lost patience when Mathis carried his offensive struggles behind the plate. He was sent down to Triple-A, Mike Napoli got his shot and thrived, and Mathis wasn't called up again until September. Managers rated Mathis the best defensive catcher in the Triple-A Pacific Coast League. He's agile, blocks and receives well, owns a solid-average arm and calls a good game. He has shown 15-20 homer power potential in the past, though his power regressed in 2006. Mathis took a step backward at the plate in 2006. His bat speed was just fringe-average, his plate discipline declined and his swing got long. He reduced his propensity chase pitches, but has additional room for improvement. Despite outstanding makeup, he didn't handle adversity well in Los Angeles and put too much pressure on himself. He's a below-average runner, albeit with good instincts. Mathis still could reach his ceiling of a dependable, everyday backstop provided he improves his contact at the plate. He has a better all-around game than Molina and Napoli, who will be his main competition in spring training.
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  Ranked Los Angeles Angels #4 prospect in 2006
  Mathis had a miserable second half in 2004 and was ticketed for a return to Double-A in 2005 when Triple-A catcher Wil Nieves was traded to the Yankees, opening a spot at Salt Lake. Mathis had a fine season, re-establishing himself as one of the game's top catching prospects and making his big league debut in August. Mathis is the consummate defensive catcher. He's athletic, which enables him to block, catch and throw with ease. His arm strength is at least average and plays better because of good footwork and a clean exchange. He threw out 33 percent of basestealers in Triple-A. A true leader, he handles pitchers well. Mathis matured as a hitter last season, shortening his swing and reducing the rotation in his lower half to improve his plate coverage and efficiency. He profiles as a .250-.270 hitter with 15-20 homer potential. While he's a slightly below-average runner, he has good instincts on the basepaths. Mathis needs to do a better job of covering the outer half and laying off breaking balls out of the zone. He tends to overanalyze and press, which got him into trouble in 2004. The Angels never doubted that Mathis had the makeup to rebound from 2004. His bat isn't quite ready for everyday duty, but Bengie Molina's departure means Mathis will play a significant role in Los Angeles.
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  Ranked Los Angeles Angels #4 prospect in 2005
  After Mathis got off to a strong start in 2004, he collapsed after Casey Kotchman and Dallas McPherson were promoted from Double-A. Mathis slumped to .165 the rest of the way and continued to struggle in instructional league. A premium athlete, Mathis has fast-twitch muscle movement and plenty of bat speed, enabling him to drive balls into the gaps. In instructional league, he worked on shortening his swing and closing his stance. He moves well behind the plate, blocks balls in the dirt and has slightly above-average arm strength. Mathis previously overcame his swing flaws with his athleticism, but he was exploited at Double-A. His plate discipline suffered as well. Like many intelligent players, Mathis can be too analytical and self-critical. Despite his defensive tools and acumen, he threw out just 21 percent of basestealers. Mathis' struggles may have stemmed from trying to carry a depleted Arkansas lineup. He'll try a revised approach at the plate in 2005, likely back in Double-A. He still could start for Anaheim in 2006 and develop into an all-star catcher.
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  Ranked Los Angeles Angels #2 prospect in 2004
  Mathis projected as a fifth-round pick heading into the 2001 draft, but the Angels identified him as a potential first-rounder early in the spring and were prepared to take him 13th overall if Casey Kotchman was gone. He turned down a two-sport offer from Florida State, where was recruited as quarterback along with Joe Mauer. Mathis' older brother Jake is an infielder in the Angels system. Mathis has conjured comparisons from Jason Kendall to Mike Lieberthal because of his athleticism, agility and offensive ceiling. His improved pitch recognition has allowed him to make adjustments at the plate and control the barrel of the bat. He has strength and bat speed, and his power numbers have increased each year. He displays all of the attributes of a clubhouse leader and has the makeup to take charge of a pitching staff. While he has above-average arm strength and quick, soft hands, Mathis needs to make subtle adjustments to deter basestealers. He threw out just 25 percent last year. Only Mauer rates ahead of Mathis among the game's catching prospects. Mathis will take over from Bengie Molina in Anaheim no later than 2005.
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  Ranked Los Angeles Angels #4 prospect in 2003
  Mathis grabbed scouts' attention as fellow 2001 first-rounder Alan Horne's personal catcher in high school. Mathis spent most of his time between shortstop and the mound, hitting .506 while posting a 0.95 ERA. The Angels considered him with the 13th overall pick, where they snagged Casey Kotchman, and signed Mathis for $850,000. Mathis' strong hands and plus bat speed allow him to drive the ball with power into the gaps, and eventually will produce home runs. He's a premium athlete with an aggressive nature and above-average tools behind the plate. He already shows advanced receiving skills, a plus arm and a quick release. One scout said Mathis' makeup is off the charts. Mathis needs minor adjustments at the plate in pitch recognition and situational hitting. Freak injuries--a broken hand in 2001 and broken cheekbone in 2002--ended his first two pro years, and he was worn down during the last month of his first full season. Mathis offers a unique combination of tools for a catcher and has the potential to be a two-way asset. He should move up the ladder rapidly alongside Kotchman.
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  Ranked Los Angeles Angels #10 prospect in 2002
  Mathis was somewhat of a surprise as the No. 33 overall pick last June, but Angels scouts agreed he has first-round talent and wouldn't last until they picked again at No. 57. As a senior, he hit .506-10-31 as a shortstop/ catcher and posted a 0.95 ERA and 108 strikeouts in 66 innings on the mound. Anaheim lured him away from Florida State with an $850,000 bonus. The Angels are intrigued with his' athleticism, which is off the charts for a catcher. Not only was he a talented two-way baseball player in high school, but he also starred at quarterback and safety for his football team. An advanced receiver, he got valuable experience catching quality pitching as the backstop for Indians first-round pick Alan Horne. With a quick, efficient stroke, Mathis projects to hit for average and some power. Mathis' pro debut ended after 29 games when he broke his hand when hit by a pitch. High school catchers drafted in the first round are always a risky proposition, but Mathis has the upside of Jason Kendall, a high school first-rounder who became an all-star. Mathis will go to low Class A, following the same path as 2000 second-rounder Jared Abruzzo, another prep catcher.

Minor League Top Prospects

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  Ranked Pacific Coast League #10 prospect in 2005
  Though Mathis remains one of the top catching prospects in the game, scouts have downgraded their expectations for him. The consensus is that he'll be a solid regular rather than a possible star, and his best attribute is his makeup. That's more of a tribute to his leadership and work ethic, however, than any indictment of his offensive and defensive skills. Mathis is much more athletic than most catchers. He's more of a grinder at the plate than a sweet swinger, and he figures to be a .270 hitter with 15 homers per year. He needs to do a better job of covering the outer half and laying off breaking balls out of the zone. He threw out 33 percent of basestealers in the PCL, but observers thought his arm strength was down to merely average this year. Mathis also tied for the league lead among catchers with nine errors. He moves well behind the plate and excels at handling pitchers.
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  Ranked Texas League #13 prospect in 2004
  Mathis had a season pretty much cut in half and defined by the players around him. In the first half, joined by longtime teammates and friends Casey Kotchman and Dallas McPherson (his roommate since he got into pro ball), Mathis thrived. He was the most complete catcher in the league in the first half, with above-average catch-and-throw skills, excellent athletic ability behind the plate and a solid bat. When Kotchman and later McPherson were promoted, though, Mathis was left nearly alone in the middle of a poor Arkansas lineup. As the team started to struggle, Mathis' season collapsed. He threw out just 21 percent of opposing basestealers, though managers said he got little help from his pitchers. His OPS (on-base plus slugging) was sub-.500 after June 19 ( when McPherson was called up), as opponents regularly pitched around him, and Mathis got pull-happy. He also wore down physically under the toll of the TL's heat and the burden of trying to carry a poor team. "He wasn't getting anything to hit," Coolbaugh said, "not after those guys were promoted. He had very little in terms of a supporting cast, and I think it wore on him mentally; he tried to do too much and it all just kind of snowballed on him. I see the tools are still there. Sometimes, you have to overlook the numbers. He's a good player and will be a good big league player."
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  Ranked California League #3 prospect in 2003
  Mathis followed Santana to Double-A in August. Between the two levels, he smoked 39 doubles and a career-best 13 home runs. Mathis's athleticism and size generate comparisons to a young Jason Kendall. The AL scout said that Mathis has more arm and more pop than Kendall at the same stage, though his receiving skills lag behind. Primarily a shortstop in high school, Mathis has plus arm strength and has the aptitude to improve, but isn't always fluid and easy with his hands. At the plate, he hits hard line drives up the middle and doesn't get easily fooled by offspeed stuff. Mathis' intangibles might outweigh all of his physical gifts. "He is legitimately upset if there is a rainout," the AL scout said. "He can't get too many swings. He just can't get enough baseball."
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  Ranked Midwest League #9 prospect in 2002
  A surprise supplemental first-round pick at the time of the 2001 draft, Mathis has made the Angels look good. He's an all-around catcher whose skills don't lag too far behind Mauer's. Mathis' work ethic and leadership abilities drew as much praise as his physical tools. Scouts said he's better defensively than Mauer right now. Mathis, also a former high school quarterback, is a plus-plus receiver with an above-average arm. He threw out 37 percent of basestealers to rank fifth in the MWL. Mathis has some offensive potential as well. Using a squatty stance like Jeff Bagwell's, he has a nice stroke and should have at least average power.
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  Ranked Pioneer League #13 prospect in 2001
  A surprise supplemental first-round pick in June, Mathis was the best all-around catching prospect in the league. His debut was truncated when Jones hit him with a pitch and broke his hand. Mathis, who caught Indians' first-round pick Alan Horne in high school, has above-average athleticism behind the plate, with soft hands and the ability to block balls in the dirt. He also has an excellent eye and quick wrists that enable him to be a productive hitter. "He's 18 years old, but his defensive ability is so polished that he looks like he's caught for 10 years," Kotchman said. "His hands are soft and his arm is plus and he's got a very good approach to hitting. He also can run a little bit. He's got everything you want in a catcher. To me, he's a little bigger version of Craig Biggio with a better arm."

Top 100 Rankings

• Ranked Baseball America's #60 prospect in 2006
• Ranked Baseball America's #67 prospect in 2005
• Ranked Baseball America's #22 prospect in 2004
• Ranked Baseball America's #48 prospect in 2003

• December, 2001 Scouting Report
  Mathis was somewhat of a surprise as the No. 33 overall pick last June, but Angels scouts agreed he has first-round talent and wouldn't last until they picked again at No. 57. As a senior, he hit .506-10-31 as a shortstop/ catcher and posted a 0.95 ERA and 108 strikeouts in 66 innings on the mound. Anaheim lured him away from Florida State with an $850,000 bonus. The Angels are intrigued with his' athleticism, which is off the charts for a catcher. Not only was he a talented two-way baseball player in high school, but he also starred at quarterback and safety for his football team. An advanced receiver, he got valuable experience catching quality pitching as the backstop for Indians first-round pick Alan Horne. With a quick, efficient stroke, Mathis projects to hit for average and some power. Mathis' pro debut ended after 29 games when he broke his hand when hit by a pitch. High school catchers drafted in the first round are always a risky proposition, but Mathis has the upside of Jason Kendall, a high school first-rounder who became an all-star. Mathis will go to low Class A, following the same path as 2000 second-rounder Jared Abruzzo, another prep catcher.