Mike Matuella pitches in a minor league game

Mike Matuella, righthanded pitcher and 2015 3rd round draft choice of the Texas Rangers, pitched in a minor league spring game today, his first game action in almost a year. Wilson says the results of his 20 pitch stint “could have been better,” but Matuella and the Rangers are happy with his health right now.

Very good news for Matuella, who was a potential #1 overall pick in the 2015 draft before Tommy John surgery sidelined him. Matuella made one appearance in the Rangers’ system in 2016, a three inning stint for Spokane, before being shut down again due to UCL issues.

Matuella has what is likely the highest ceiling in the Rangers’ system, with the question being health, due to both the elbow and a history of back issues. The Rangers took Matuella and Jake Lemoine back-to-back in the 3rd and 4th rounds in 2015, but both have been on the shelf since going pro due to injury problems. Matuella and Lemoine have both, however, been throwing this spring, and if they can stay healthy, it would be a big shot in the arm for the Rangers’ farm system.