Minnesota Twins Prospect Retrospective: Zebby Matthews

[Cody Christie]

Rare are the seasons in which a pitcher climbs stepwise all the way from the Midwest League to the American League. How did Zebby Matthews become one of baseball's fastest-rising pitching prospects?

Image courtesy of Rob Thompson, St. Paul Saints

The Minnesota Twins have always prided themselves on developing homegrown talent, and their latest pitching gem, Zebby Matthews, is no exception. The young right-handed pitcher has been making waves throughout the organization, and his recent call-up to the big-league roster is a testament to his hard work, perseverance, and exceptional talent.

Draft and Professional Debut
When the Twins selected Matthews in the eighth round of the 2022 MLB Draft, he was relatively unknown to many baseball fans. A product of Western Carolina University, Matthews didn't have the same level of exposure as some of his peers from larger schools. However, what he lacked in fame, he more than made up for with his skill set and potential for development based in openness to change.

From the moment Matthews stepped onto the field in the minor leagues, it was clear that the Twins had found a diamond in the rough. Minnesota had him get his feet wet after signing with the club in 2022, making two appearances with the organization’s affiliates in Fort Myers (FCL Twins, Fort Myers Mighty Mussels). Matthews made it through those appearances without allowing a run, and the Twins were already working on his mechanics to improve his velocity and pitch mix.

Climbing the Organizational Ladder
Matthews's journey through the minor leagues has been nothing short of meteoric. In Fort Myers, he posted a 2.56 ERA, with a 35.3 K% and a 3.3 BB%. Minnesota promoted him to Cedar Rapids after eight starts, and he faced older competition for the first time in his career. Matthews had one terrible start with the Kernels (8 ER in two-thirds of an inning), but settled in nicely with a 3.75 ERA and a .680 opponents OPS in his final 12 starts. In his first full season with the Twins organization, he posted impressive numbers across two levels, showcasing his ability to adapt and thrive against increasingly difficult competition.

The Twins had Matthews begin the 2024 season at High-A, where he finished last season. In four starts, he dominated, with a 33.3 K% and no walks allowed. His performance in Double-A was particularly eye-catching. Facing some of the best young hitters in the game, Matthews maintained an ERA under 2.00 and consistently racked up strikeouts (30.1 K%) while limiting walks (2.9 BB%). His ability to command the strike zone and keep hitters off-balance with his off-speed pitches was critical to his success.

By the time Matthews reached Triple-A, there was little doubt he was on the cusp of something special. Despite the higher level of competition, he continued to overwhelm hitters, with a 28.4 K%. He only made four starts for the Saints after being promoted near the middle of July. It was clear from that point that Minnesota was letting him get a taste of the organization’s highest minor-league level before getting his big-league call-up.

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For more detail on Matthews's stuff, including specifics on his pitch data from his stop in Triple-A, see Jamie Cameron's piece on Zebby from Monday.

Pitching Arsenal and Future
His fastball sits comfortably in the mid-90s, but he can occasionally amp it up to the high 90s. Matthews relies on an upper-80s slider to generate swings and misses (43.9 Whiff%).  Additionally, his cutter is an average pitch that sits in the low 90s. He mixes in a curveball and a changeup to keep batters guessing. His poise on the mound and his ability to mix pitches effectively made him a standout prospect in a farm system that has been forced to rely on multiple rookie pitchers this season. 

As the Twins gear up for a playoff push, the addition of Matthews to the pitching staff could be a game-changer. His presence gives the team another weapon in what has already been a strong rotation filled with young starters. Fans of the Twins have every reason to be excited about Matthews. He represents the next wave of young talent that will help define the franchise's future, and if his minor-league success is any indication, the future is bright, indeed.

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What stands out about his minor-league résumé? What are Matthews's realistic expectations as he gets his first taste of the majors? Leave a comment and start the discussion.

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[Karbo]

Lets hope he can overcome the nerves and excitement of his MLB debut. Really excited to see him pitch tonight. Tough team to face though, as KC doesn't K much and is so god hitting in the clutch.

[LambchoP]

Excited to watch Zebby debut tonight, good luck kid. I'm guessing Morris will get the call up to AAA to take Zebbys spot in the St Paul rotation? Between Festa, Zebby, Morris and SWR, the twins finally have some solid young pitchers. I just hope this depth doesn't deter them from going out in the off-season and raising our ceiling a bit. Too bad there's been no updates on Canterino, he could have been in this list too if he can ever stay healthy. The 40 man list here on TD has him listed as in the minors, not on the IL. He could be a future closer or set up type guy with his stuff.

[Blyleven2011]

Mom  / dad I made it , I'm going to the show  says an excited zebby ...

Dad says that's great son , now get down to business  and do your best for the twins ...

Good luck son , look forward to seeing you , we'll be in attendance  ...