The Minnesota Twins announced today that they have selected the contract of right-handed pitcher Zebby Matthews from Triple-A St. Paul.
Matthews, 24, has pitched at three levels of the Twins minor league system this season, combining to go 6-3 with a 2.60 ERA (97.0 IP, 28 ER), seven walks, 114 strikeouts, a 0.87 WHIP and a .212 opponent batting average in 18 games (17 starts) for High-A Cedar Rapids, Double-A Wichita and St. Paul. Among all minor leaguers with a minimum of 90.0 innings pitched, he ranks first in walk percentage (1.9%), strikeout-to-walk ratio (16.29) and fielding independent pitching (2.31), and third in WHIP. Matthews is ranked as the club’s sixth-best prospect by MLB.com, second among pitchers, behind David Festa (No. 4). He is also ranked as the 98th-best prospect in all of baseball by MLB.com.
The Cullowhee, North Carolina native was selected by the Twins in the eighth round of the 2022 First-Year Player Draft out of Western Carolina University. The 6-foot-5, 225-pound Matthews has pitched in parts of three minor league seasons for Minnesota, going 13-6 with a 3.20 ERA (205.1 IP, 73 ER), 22 walks, 232 strikeouts, a 0.96 WHIP and a .224 opponent batting average in 42 games (37 starts). Matthews will make the start tonight against the Kansas City Royals at Target Field and wear uniform number 52.
To make room for Matthews on the 26-man roster, the Twins have designated right-handed pitcher Scott Blewett for release or assignment. Blewett appeared in one game for the Twins, pitching 1.0 scoreless inning last night against the Royals.
(info courtesy of Twins)
