Recap of Ward Melville Alumnus’ First Season with the Blue Jays

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Colin Hoelzl, Staff Writer

Former Ward Melville Pitcher Steven Matz has seemed to have found his footing with the Blue Jays in 2021. In his senior year at Ward Melville, he pitched 44 innings, allowed 11 hits, walked 15, and struck out 81 batters. Matz was drafted by the New York Mets in the 2nd round of the 2009 MLB June Amateur Draft.

Matz was 14-7, with an ERA of 3.82, a FIP of 3.79, and 144 strikeouts in 24 games with Toronto. His 14 wins had him tied for 2nd in the American League behind Yankees pitcher Gerrit Cole.

Before he made his major league debut, Matz was a quickly rising prospect in baseball. Matz started his career strong with the New York Mets, going 4-0 in six games in 2015, and posting an ERA of 2.27. Matz finished 6th in NL ROY voting, with a 9-8 record, and a 3.40 ERA in 22 games in 2016.

After years with the Mets, he was traded to the Blue Jays in January of 2021.

Matz pitched well in the 2nd half of the 2021 season, putting up an ERA of 2.91. Matz put together an impressive August, going 2-1 with an ERA of 1.30 in five games. During that five-game stretch, he pitched 27.2 innings; striking out 20; and allowed only four earned runs.

In his final seven games of the season, he went undefeated going 4-0 with an ERA of 3.49. On October 1st, Matz pitched seven innings against the Orioles, giving up two runs and striking out five to finish off the season.

Matz elected free agency on November 3rd and is now expected to sign a deal with a team before December.