Steven Matz

Steven Matz's Biography

Born May 29, 1991, Steven Jakob Matz is a distinguished American professional baseball player celebrated for his pitching prowess. Currently, he represents the St. Louis Cardinals in Major League Baseball (MLB), having formerly played for the New York Mets and Toronto Blue Jays. Matz’s love for baseball is deeply rooted, cultivated from an early age in Long Island, eventually solidified at Ward Melville High School in East Setauket, New York. In the second round of the 2009 MLB draft, following an impressive high school career, the Mets scooped him up as the 72nd pick.

Unfortunately, Matz’s professional career commencement was deferred for two years due to a tear in his throwing elbow’s ulnar collateral ligament, requiring Tommy John surgery. While making his professional debut in 2012 and spending three years in the Mets’ minor leagues, Matz contributed notably to the Savannah Sand Gnats and Binghamton Mets’ championships. The outstanding performance led to his naming as the Mets’ Organizational Pitcher of the Year in 2014.

On June 28, 2015, Matz made his MLB debut and impressively broke several hitting records in his first start. Despite an injury-shortened regular season, Matz excelled in the postseason games, resulting in him participating in Game 4 of the World Series against the Kansas City Royals. In 2016, he began with a 7–1 record, leading rookie pitchers in wins, ERA, and strikeouts by the end of May. Although he had a promising start, injuries brought forth another shortened season. He firmly made his mark in 2018, landing 30 starts in the season, concluding in an 11–10 record in 2019, his first win since 2016.

Outside his successful sporting career, Matz is notable for his charitable initiatives, including Tru 32, an organization dedicated to honoring NYC’s first responders and U.S. Military.

Matz was born second to his parents Ron and Lori Matz, with an older brother Jonathan and younger sister Jillian. His father, Ron, was a service manager at a Jeep dealership, while Lori worked as an administrative employee at a high school. Interestingly, his entire family lineage were Mets fans.

In his early years, Matz was part of the Little League at the age of eight, receiving lessons from former MLB pitcher Neal Heaton. It was at Ward Melville High School that Matz showcased his exceptional talent, catching the eye of Mets scouts at a 2008 baseball showcase tournament. A friendly rivalry with Marcus Stroman, a future Mets teammate, spiced up Matz’s high school baseball season.

Matz was a formidable player in his senior season, securing a 6–1 win-loss record, contributing to Ward Melville’s first league title in 34 years. Being highly sought-after, forty different NCAA Division I schools tried to recruit Matz.

Although his professional debut was hindered by elbow discomfort that resulted in Tommy John surgery, Matz made a robust comeback in 2012 with the Kingsport Mets. His subsequent stellar performances with the Savannah Sand Gnats and the Binghamton Mets anchored his ascension to the Mets 40-man roster in 2013.

In 2015, Matz’s performance at the Triple-A Pacific Coast League paved the way to joining the New York Mets’ six-man pitching rotation for the season. His debut game against the Cincinnati Reds was a testament to his hard work and talent, breaking various records and becoming a stalwart asset to the team.

Despite the setbacks due to injuries, Matz’s commitment to the sport and his commendable performances have continued to inspire players and fans alike. Through years of dedication and hard work, Matz earned a distinguished place in the American professional baseball circle.