Luis Matos Stats & Scouting Report — College Baseball, MLB Draft, Prospects

AB	4
AVG	0
OBP	0
SLG	0
HR	0

Full name Luis Eduardo Matos
Born 01/28/2002 in Valera, Venezuela
Profile Ht.: 5'11" / Wt.: 160 / Bats: R / Throws: R

Top Rankings

Organization Prospect Rankings

BA Grade/Risk: 50/High

Track Record: Matos was signed out of Venezuela in 2018, then was impressive in his pro debut in 2019, mostly in the Dominican Summer League. Strict lockdowns in Venezuela in 2020 meant he was stranded in the U.S. during the pandemic, when his only on-field action came during instructional league. That is where he first showed hints of what was to come. He broke out in 2021, when his name was splashed all over the Low-A California League leaderboards. Matos struggled in 2022, both with performance and a nagging quad strain that limited him to 91 games at High-A Eugene before a stint in the Arizona Fall League.

Scouting Report: Matos' numbers in 2021 masked a swing-first mentality, which he tried to correct in 2022. In doing so, internal evaluators believe he became a little too passive and got himself into bad counts. He also struggled to maintain an effective bat path, which got too choppy and wasn't in the zone for very long, and he also had a difficult time keeping his upper and lower halves connected. He chased a bit too much but balanced it somewhat with a solid in-zone miss rate of 18%. At his best, Matos shows electric bat speed and good hand-eye coordination that could make him a fringe-average hitter with above-average power potential. Matos' average speed and excellent instincts give him a chance to be an average everyday center fielder with an above-average arm that could play in right field if he has to move to a corner.

The Future: After a season of inconsistency, Matos will work hard to re-establish himself in 2023, when he'll likely reach the upper levels for the first time. If he finds his way, he has the upside to become an everyday outfielder in San Francisco.

Scouting Grades: Hitting: 45. Power: 55. Speed: 50. Fielding: 50. Arm: 55
Track Record: After shining in the Dominican Summer League in 2019, Matos’ stateside debut was scuttled by the coronavirus pandemic. Like most Venezuelan players, he was stuck in the U.S. because of travel restrictions in his home country, meaning he spent most of the shutdown at the team hotel in Arizona. Since returning, Matos has been extremely impressive, first at 2020 instructional league, and then again over a season in the Low-A West, where he ranked as the league’s No. 6 prospect.

Scouting Report: Matos has huge upside as a hitter, and he showed an enticing blend of contact and impact in his full-season debut. He was the only player in the minor leagues who hit better than .300 while striking out fewer than 70 times over the course of 450 or more at-bats. He was also one of just five players with 20 or more doubles, 15 or more homers and 20 or more stolen bases. He struck out just 61 times, though part of that could be explained by a highly aggressive approach that led him to see just 3.2 pitches per plate appearance. He’s got lightning-quick hands, an innate ability to find the barrel and produced a maximum exit velocity of 111 mph. For now, Matos will stay in center field, and there’s a small chance he can stick there in the long run if he improves his routes and jumps on balls hit his way. He’s more likely to move to a corner, however, where he could be an above-average defender thanks to above-average speed coupled with an above-average arm.

The Future: After a tremendous season with San Jose, Matos’ next step will be High-A Eugene, where he will face a host of more advanced pitchers. He has a very high ceiling and should be part of the Giants’ long-term outfield picture.
Hitting: 55. Power: 55. Running: 55. Fielding: 55. Arm: 55.

TRACK RECORD: Matos was one of three big prizes the Giants landed in the 2018 international class along with Marco Luciano and Jairo Pomares. He starred in the Dominican Summer League in his 2019 pro debut and earned a brief look in the Rookie-level Arizona League. Like many Venezuelans, Matos was marooned by the coronavirus pandemic and spent the shutdown at the team hotel in Scottsdale, Ariz., until being unleashed for instructional league.

SCOUTING REPORT: Matos stands out for his above-average bat speed, electric hand speed and ability to maneuver the barrel up and down the strike zone. He produced exit velocities up to 111 mph during instructs. Matos is more than just a fastball hitter. He shows an impressive ability to wait back on offspeed pitches for his age and hit a pair of same-side changeups for home runs during instructional league. Defensively, Matos is the organization’s most surefire center field prospect. He shows the above-average speed, instincts and jumps to man the position. The Giants were especially pleased with the way Matos maintained his body during the shutdown.

THE FUTURE: No Giants prospect raised his stock more than Matos during the challenging conditions of the 2020 season. He is set to make his full-season debut in 2021.
TRACK RECORD: When the Giants emerged from the international penalty box in 2018, they made three big-name signings: Shortstop Marco Luciano, outfielder Jairo Pomares and Matos. As an amateur, Matos was known for an advanced approach which produced plenty of line drives. That scouting report has rung true as a pro, but he's begun showing more power than was expected.

SCOUTING REPORT: Refining his strike-zone discipline was one of the first orders of business for Matos once he turned pro. He worked toward that goal and showed immediate results in his first season by sticking to the organization's mantra of “drive the ball or walk.” His 1.000 OPS placed third in the DSL. The Giants project Matos to have average or better tools across the board, and are optimistic his clean swing will make him a plus hitter and additional strength will give him above-average power. He's an above-average runner as well and has the range and aptitude to stick in center field.

THE FUTURE: After a cameo in the Rookie-level Arizona League, Matos is likely to return to the level in 2020 with a chance at short-season Salem-Keizer in the second half. He has the upside of a center fielder with a blend of gifts on both sides of the ball.

Minor League Top Prospects

Matos earned rave reviews at instructional league last fall and showed it wasn’t a fluke in his first full season. He hit .313 with a league-leading 51 extra-base hits despite a cavernous home park. Managers voted him the league’s best batting prospect. Matos’ quick hands and excellent bat speed allowed him to jump on fastballs and crush them with eye-popping exit velocities. He had three hitting streaks of at least 10 games and repeatedly topped 105 mph off the bat. “The biggest thing was the consistent hard contact,” Inland Empire manager Jack Howell said. “Whether it was a base hit or a home run or a lineout. Even when he got fooled on a pitch and put the ball in play, it was hit hard and loud.” Matos struggled against better breaking pitches, particularly sliders down and away, and will have to show he can lay off them at higher levels. He played a solid center field with quick reads and reactions off the bat, but his average speed may push him to a corner as he matures.

Top 100 Rankings

Scouting Reports

BA Grade/Risk: 50/High

Track Record: Matos was signed out of Venezuela in 2018, then was impressive in his pro debut in 2019, mostly in the Dominican Summer League. Strict lockdowns in Venezuela in 2020 meant he was stranded in the U.S. during the pandemic, when his only on-field action came during instructional league. That is where he first showed hints of what was to come. He broke out in 2021, when his name was splashed all over the Low-A California League leaderboards. Matos struggled in 2022, both with performance and a nagging quad strain that limited him to 91 games at High-A Eugene before a stint in the Arizona Fall League.

Scouting Report: Matos' numbers in 2021 masked a swing-first mentality, which he tried to correct in 2022. In doing so, internal evaluators believe he became a little too passive and got himself into bad counts. He also struggled to maintain an effective bat path, which got too choppy and wasn't in the zone for very long, and he also had a difficult time keeping his upper and lower halves connected. He chased a bit too much but balanced it somewhat with a solid in-zone miss rate of 18%. At his best, Matos shows electric bat speed and good hand-eye coordination that could make him a fringe-average hitter with above-average power potential. Matos' average speed and excellent instincts give him a chance to be an average everyday center fielder with an above-average arm that could play in right field if he has to move to a corner.

The Future: After a season of inconsistency, Matos will work hard to re-establish himself in 2023, when he'll likely reach the upper levels for the first time. If he finds his way, he has the upside to become an everyday outfielder in San Francisco.

Scouting Grades: Hitting: 45. Power: 55. Speed: 50. Fielding: 50. Arm: 55
BA Grade/Risk: 50/High

Track Record: Matos was signed out of Venezuela in 2018, then was impressive in his pro debut in 2019, mostly in the Dominican Summer League. Strict lockdowns in Venezuela in 2020 meant he was stranded in the U.S. during the pandemic, when his only on-field action came during instructional league. That is where he first showed hints of what was to come. He broke out in 2021, when his name was splashed all over the Low-A California League leaderboards. Matos struggled in 2022, both with performance and a nagging quad strain that limited him to 91 games at High-A Eugene before a stint in the Arizona Fall League.

Scouting Report: Matos' numbers in 2021 masked a swing-first mentality, which he tried to correct in 2022. In doing so, internal evaluators believe he became a little too passive and got himself into bad counts. He also struggled to maintain an effective bat path, which got too choppy and wasn't in the zone for very long, and he also had a difficult time keeping his upper and lower halves connected. He chased a bit too much but balanced it somewhat with a solid in-zone miss rate of 18%. At his best, Matos shows electric bat speed and good hand-eye coordination that could make him a fringe-average hitter with above-average power potential. Matos' average speed and excellent instincts give him a chance to be an average everyday center fielder with an above-average arm that could play in right field if he has to move to a corner.

The Future: After a season of inconsistency, Matos will work hard to re-establish himself in 2023, when he'll likely reach the upper levels for the first time. If he finds his way, he has the upside to become an everyday outfielder in San Francisco.

Scouting Grades: Hitting: 45. Power: 55. Speed: 50. Fielding: 50. Arm: 55
BA Grade: 50/High

Midseason Update: After a fantastic year at Low-A in 2021, Matos has scuffled at High-A Eugene. He missed time with a strained quad, but has also struggled because he&#39s gone from being too aggressive in 2021 to too passive in 2022. Caught in between approaches, he&#39s worked himself into bad counts and then made weak contact as a result. He&#39s not striking out at an alarming rate and he&#39s taking his walks, and the Giants are steadfast that part of the reason for Matos&#39 struggles involves some bad luck. His .202 BABIP through 42 games lends credence to that theory.

Track Record: After shining in the Dominican Summer League in 2019, Matos&#39 stateside debut was scuttled by the coronavirus pandemic. Like most Venezuelan players, he was stuck in the U.S. because of travel restrictions in his home country, meaning he spent most of the shutdown at the team hotel in Arizona. Since returning, Matos has been extremely impressive, first at 2020 instructional league, and then again over a season in the Low-A West, where he ranked as the league&#39s No. 6 prospect.

Scouting Report: Matos has huge upside as a hitter, and he showed an enticing blend of contact and impact in his full-season debut. He was the only player in the minor leagues who hit better than .300 while striking out fewer than 70 times over the course of 450 or more at-bats. He was also one of just five players with 20 or more doubles, 15 or more homers and 20 or more stolen bases. He struck out just 61 times, though part of that could be explained by a highly aggressive approach that led him to see just 3.2 pitches per plate appearance. He&#39s got lightning-quick hands, an innate ability to find the barrel and produced a maximum exit velocity of 111 mph. For now, Matos will stay in center field, and there&#39s a small chance he can stick there in the long run if he improves his routes and jumps on balls hit his way. He&#39s more likely to move to a corner, however, where he could be an above-average defender thanks to above-average speed coupled with an above-average arm.

The Future: After a tremendous season with San Jose, Matos&#39 next step will be High-A Eugene, where he will face a host of more advanced pitchers. He has a very high ceiling and should be part of the Giants&#39 long-term outfield picture.

Scouting Grades: Hit: 60. Power: 55. Speed: 55. Fielding: 55. Arm: 55.
Track Record: After shining in the Dominican Summer League in 2019, Matos’ stateside debut was scuttled by the coronavirus pandemic. Like most Venezuelan players, he was stuck in the U.S. because of travel restrictions in his home country, meaning he spent most of the shutdown at the team hotel in Arizona. Since returning, Matos has been extremely impressive, first at 2020 instructional league, and then again over a season in the Low-A West, where he ranked as the league’s No. 6 prospect.

Scouting Report: Matos has huge upside as a hitter, and he showed an enticing blend of contact and impact in his full-season debut. He was the only player in the minor leagues who hit better than .300 while striking out fewer than 70 times over the course of 450 or more at-bats. He was also one of just five players with 20 or more doubles, 15 or more homers and 20 or more stolen bases. He struck out just 61 times, though part of that could be explained by a highly aggressive approach that led him to see just 3.2 pitches per plate appearance. He’s got lightning-quick hands, an innate ability to find the barrel and produced a maximum exit velocity of 111 mph. For now, Matos will stay in center field, and there’s a small chance he can stick there in the long run if he improves his routes and jumps on balls hit his way. He’s more likely to move to a corner, however, where he could be an above-average defender thanks to above-average speed coupled with an above-average arm.

The Future: After a tremendous season with San Jose, Matos’ next step will be High-A Eugene, where he will face a host of more advanced pitchers. He has a very high ceiling and should be part of the Giants’ long-term outfield picture.
Matos earned rave reviews at instructional league last fall and showed it wasn’t a fluke in his first full season. He hit .313 with a league-leading 51 extra-base hits despite a cavernous home park. Managers voted him the league’s best batting prospect. Matos’ quick hands and excellent bat speed allowed him to jump on fastballs and crush them with eye-popping exit velocities. He had three hitting streaks of at least 10 games and repeatedly topped 105 mph off the bat. “The biggest thing was the consistent hard contact,” Inland Empire manager Jack Howell said. “Whether it was a base hit or a home run or a lineout. Even when he got fooled on a pitch and put the ball in play, it was hit hard and loud.” Matos struggled against better breaking pitches, particularly sliders down and away, and will have to show he can lay off them at higher levels. He played a solid center field with quick reads and reactions off the bat, but his average speed may push him to a corner as he matures.
Hitting: 55. Power: 55. Running: 55. Fielding: 55. Arm: 55.

TRACK RECORD: Matos was one of three big prizes the Giants landed in the 2018 international class along with Marco Luciano and Jairo Pomares. He starred in the Dominican Summer League in his 2019 pro debut and earned a brief look in the Rookie-level Arizona League. Like many Venezuelans, Matos was marooned by the coronavirus pandemic and spent the shutdown at the team hotel in Scottsdale, Ariz., until being unleashed for instructional league.

SCOUTING REPORT: Matos stands out for his above-average bat speed, electric hand speed and ability to maneuver the barrel up and down the strike zone. He produced exit velocities up to 111 mph during instructs. Matos is more than just a fastball hitter. He shows an impressive ability to wait back on offspeed pitches for his age and hit a pair of same-side changeups for home runs during instructional league. Defensively, Matos is the organization's most surefire center field prospect. He shows the above-average speed, instincts and jumps to man the position. The Giants were especially pleased with the way Matos maintained his body during the shutdown.

THE FUTURE: No Giants prospect raised his stock more than Matos during the challenging conditions of the 2020 season. He is set to make his full-season debut in 2021.
Hitting: 55. Power: 55. Running: 55. Fielding: 55. Arm: 55.

TRACK RECORD: Matos was one of three big prizes the Giants landed in the 2018 international class along with Marco Luciano and Jairo Pomares. He starred in the Dominican Summer League in his 2019 pro debut and earned a brief look in the Rookie-level Arizona League. Like many Venezuelans, Matos was marooned by the coronavirus pandemic and spent the shutdown at the team hotel in Scottsdale, Ariz., until being unleashed for instructional league.

SCOUTING REPORT: Matos stands out for his above-average bat speed, electric hand speed and ability to maneuver the barrel up and down the strike zone. He produced exit velocities up to 111 mph during instructs. Matos is more than just a fastball hitter. He shows an impressive ability to wait back on offspeed pitches for his age and hit a pair of same-side changeups for home runs during instructional league. Defensively, Matos is the organization’s most surefire center field prospect. He shows the above-average speed, instincts and jumps to man the position. The Giants were especially pleased with the way Matos maintained his body during the shutdown.

THE FUTURE: No Giants prospect raised his stock more than Matos during the challenging conditions of the 2020 season. He is set to make his full-season debut in 2021.
Hitting: 55. Power: 55. Running: 55. Fielding: 55. Arm: 55.

TRACK RECORD: Matos was one of three big prizes the Giants landed in the 2018 international class along with Marco Luciano and Jairo Pomares. He starred in the Dominican Summer League in his 2019 pro debut and earned a brief look in the Rookie-level Arizona League. Like many Venezuelans, Matos was marooned by the coronavirus pandemic and spent the shutdown at the team hotel in Scottsdale, Ariz., until being unleashed for instructional league.

SCOUTING REPORT: Matos stands out for his above-average bat speed, electric hand speed and ability to maneuver the barrel up and down the strike zone. He produced exit velocities up to 111 mph during instructs. Matos is more than just a fastball hitter. He shows an impressive ability to wait back on offspeed pitches for his age and hit a pair of same-side changeups for home runs during instructional league. Defensively, Matos is the organization’s most surefire center field prospect. He shows the above-average speed, instincts and jumps to man the position. The Giants were especially pleased with the way Matos maintained his body during the shutdown.

THE FUTURE: No Giants prospect raised his stock more than Matos during the challenging conditions of the 2020 season. He is set to make his full-season debut in 2021.
TRACK RECORD: When the Giants emerged from the international penalty box in 2018, they made three big-name signings: Shortstop Marco Luciano, outfielder Jairo Pomares and Matos. As an amateur, Matos was known for an advanced approach which produced plenty of line drives. That scouting report has rung true as a pro, but he’s begun showing more power than was expected.

SCOUTING REPORT: Refining his strike-zone discipline was one of the first orders of business for Matos once he turned pro. He worked toward that goal and showed immediate results in his first season by sticking to the organization’s mantra of “drive the ball or walk.” His 1.000 OPS placed third in the DSL. The Giants project Matos to have average or better tools across the board, and are optimistic his clean swing will make him a plus hitter and additional strength will give him above-average power. He’s an above-average runner as well and has the range and aptitude to stick in center field.

THE FUTURE: After a cameo in the Rookie-level Arizona League, Matos is likely to return to the level in 2020 with a chance at short-season Salem-Keizer in the second half. He has the upside of a center fielder with a blend of gifts on both sides of the ball.
TRACK RECORD: When the Giants emerged from the international penalty box in 2018, they made three big-name signings: Shortstop Marco Luciano, outfielder Jairo Pomares and Matos. As an amateur, Matos was known for an advanced approach which produced plenty of line drives. That scouting report has rung true as a pro, but he's begun showing more power than was expected.

SCOUTING REPORT: Refining his strike-zone discipline was one of the first orders of business for Matos once he turned pro. He worked toward that goal and showed immediate results in his first season by sticking to the organization's mantra of “drive the ball or walk.” His 1.000 OPS placed third in the DSL. The Giants project Matos to have average or better tools across the board, and are optimistic his clean swing will make him a plus hitter and additional strength will give him above-average power. He's an above-average runner as well and has the range and aptitude to stick in center field.

THE FUTURE: After a cameo in the Rookie-level Arizona League, Matos is likely to return to the level in 2020 with a chance at short-season Salem-Keizer in the second half. He has the upside of a center fielder with a blend of gifts on both sides of the ball.