The Minnesota Twins’ starting rotation has been plagued with injuries this season, creating a new opening for top-100 prospect Zebby Matthews to make his major league debut.
**Zebby Matthews Joins Minnesota Twins Rotation**
The Minnesota Twins are calling up right-hander Zebby Matthews, one of the fastest-rising prospects in baseball this year, sources tell ESPN. Matthews, an eighth-round pick out of Western Carolina in 2022, has 114 strikeouts and seven walks in 97 IP. Elite command, good stuff.
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) August 12, 2024
Earlier this season, David Festa, another top pitching prospect, debuted in the majors. Now, just a few weeks later, Zebby Matthews will follow suit. Festa was a top-100 prospect at the beginning of the year, while Matthews earned that status during the season, showcasing a rapid rise through the Twins’ system.
Matthews’ ascent is remarkable even by the Twins’ standards, which have become more aggressive in promoting prospects. Drafted by Minnesota in the 8th round of the 2022 MLB Draft from East Carolina, Matthews finished last season at High-A Cedar Rapids and started this season there. His 2024 campaign includes 18 games (17 starts) across High-A, Double-A, and Triple-A, with his next appearance set for the major leagues.
**What Zebby Matthews Brings to the Minnesota Twins**
Zebby Matthews retired the last 13 batters he faced to end the game yesterday and secure the W for the @WindSurgeICT🔋
5 IP / 1 H / 0 R / 1 BB / 6 K
This season, his average FB velo is 96 MPH and he has issued a total of three (3) walks in 234 batters faced 🤯#MNTwins pic.twitter.com/b1tlcHf7Y0
— Twins Player Development (@TwinsPlayerDev) June 22, 2024
Zebby Matthews is more than just a feel-good story or a stopgap for the struggling rotation. He is a genuine starting pitching prospect, supported by impressive stats. In 97 innings this season, Matthews has a 2.60 ERA with a 114/7 K/BB ratio. His ability to limit walks and rack up strikeouts, despite challenging hitters in the zone, is notable.
At the Triple-A level, Matthews has faced some challenges with balls in play, but his secondary stats remain strong, including a 23/1 K/BB ratio in 19 innings across four starts. As Matthews joins Festa in the Twins’ rotation, he offers Rocco Baldelli the chance to utilize two top-100 prospects in one season.
With the Twins competing with the Cleveland Guardians and keeping pace with the Kansas City Royals, their success will depend heavily on their young players. Pablo Lopez has struggled in 2024, and while Bailey Ober has been exceptional, the back end of the rotation is now entirely untested. Matthews is set to make his debut on Tuesday against the Kansas City Royals, with American League Cy Young candidate Seth Lugo as his opponent.
