5/27/14

2015 Draft Profile - RHP - Mike Matuella - Duke University



5-20-14  -  Mike Matuella, RHP, Duke - Matuella has everything you want when looking at a potential 1.1 player. At 6’-6” and 225 pounds, the right-hander has the size of an imposing ace. With a fastball that touches 97 mph and sits 93-96, a potential plus 12-6 curveball that sits 79-82 mph with great depth, and a tight, 83-86 mph slider that also shows plus potential, he has the stuff you want in an ace. He also adds a 87-89 mph change-up that is already a decent offering, rounding out a four-pitch mix. Most importantly, he has the results to back it all up. Through 51.2 innings this season, he has a 2.61 ERA, 0.85 WHIP and 65 K/12 BB. He is holding opponents to a .174 BAA and has allowed just one home run. This is a kid you are going to hear a ton about in the next 12 months. http://throughthefencebaseball.com/2015-mlb-draft-25-players/42946#KfGGhgC2ZcQbdBfh.99






4-19-14  -  Michael Matuella, RHP, Duke - The 6’-6”, 225 pound right-hander has been the talk of the 2015 MLB draft and is considered the early favorite to go first overall due to his size and four-pitch arsenal. He suffered a lat sprain in his first start of the season and missed a month. When he came back, he was on a limited pitch count but the reins have since been released and he has been dazzling. His fastball can touch 97 mph and he has been sitting 93-96 mph. He adds two potential plus off-speed pitches in a 79-82 mph, 12-6 curveball with great depth and an 83-86 mph slider with tight spin. His change-up sits 87-89 and is a decent offering already. Over 25.1 innings this year, he has 34 K/7 BB and is holding opponents to a .128 batting average. He is still considered a bit raw as he has added a couple of pitches this year and he works primarily off his fastball right now, but the upside is ridiculous once he puts it all together.

4-2-14  -  As the scouting world descended upon North Carolina to see many of the top prospects in the 2014 draft (Carlos Rodon, Jeff Hoffman and Touki Toussaint), the state also offered a glimpse at one of the top arms for the 2015 draft, Duke sophomore righthander Michael Matuella, who ran his fastball up to 97 mph with a wide assortment of offspeed stuff in the final game of a sweep against rival North Carolina.
After suffering a lat strain during his first start of the season on the opening weekend, Matuella missed a full month and his pitch count was monitored closely upon his return, throwing 65 pitches combined between two mid-March starts. He had his longest start of the season since the first weekend, throwing four innings against the Tar Heels.
The 6-foot-6, 225-pound Matuella came out with premium velocity in the first inning. His first 13 fastballs to start the game were 96-97 mph, with a pair of 95 mph heaters to end the first inning. Matuella pitched up with his fastball in the opening frame, with only one low, glove-side miss.
Matuella then was 94-96 in the second inning before holding 93-96 the rest of the way through 74 pitches, despite it being only his fourth outing of the spring. He showed the ability to locate down in the zone and to both sides of the plate, primarily to his glove side. He is a power pitcher who pitches off his fastball, as 77 percent of his pitches were fastballs.
He threw a 79-82 mph curve with 12-6 shape, sharp tilt and substantial depth at its best, flashing at least plus. His 83-86 mph slider showed above-average potential. Although he threw less than five changeups on the day, Matuella showed aptitude and feel for the offering that was mostly 87-88 mph, touching 90 in the first inning. It showed the makings of at least an average offering. http://www.baseballamerica.com/college/game-report-michael-matuella/ 

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