Kevin Matthews Stats & Scouting Report

Full name Kevin Francis Matthews
Born 11/29/1992 in Edenton, NC
Profile Ht.: 5'11" / Wt.: 180 / Bats: R / Throws: L
School Richmond Hill
Drafted in the 1st round (33rd overall) by the Texas Rangers in 2011 (signed for $936,000).

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In a down year for Georgia, high school pitching was particularly weak. Matthews jumped out, and not just because his athleticism allows him to dunk a basketball despite his 5-foot-10, 160-pound frame. He's a slight but quick-armed pitcher whose fastball has touched 94-95 mph, though he's usually in the 87-90 range. He has not shown the ability to sustain above-average velocity with any consistency. His tight curveball gives him a solid-average secondary pitch. He hasn't shown much of a changeup. Matthews' handle on Twitter is "UVAbound11," which gives a hint at the strength his Virginia commitment. While some scouts compare him to such recent draft picks as Kasey Kiker and Robbie Ross (both now in the Rangers system), others liken him more to lefthanded relievers such as Billy Wagner (obviously with less velocity). The consensus is that he's a future reliever due to the effort in his delivery.

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The Rangers have dipped into the Southeast frequently in recent drafts and went back again in 2011, making Matthews their first-round pick and signing him away from a Virginia commitment for $936,000. Small but athletic and strong, Matthews impressed club officials who watched him throw down a 360-dunk before the draft despite his 5-foot-11 frame. Some scouts compared him to Texas 2006 first-rounder Kasey Kiker in terms of size and stuff, but Matthews is much more athletic, has better makeup and played against tougher high school competition. He has a quick arm and runs his fastball up to 95 mph, though he usually sits at 88-92. He has a tight curveball that already grades as a solid pitch and a changeup that's advanced for his age. As Matthews logged innings during his pro debut and instructional league, his arm slot started to creep down, and it will be important for him to stay on top of the ball to generate downward plane. To help in that regard, the Rangers had had him work with a full windup in instructional league, which also helped him stay in a straight line to the plate. There's some effort in his delivery, so he may be destined for the bullpen, but he'll remain in the rotation for the foreseeable future. Texas hopes Matthews can advance to low Class A after opening his first full pro season in extended spring training.