2022 Pre-Season SF Giants Top Prospects: 1-5

3 of 5

3. Luis Matos

Position: OF
Age: 20
Bats: Right
Throws: Right
Height: 6'2"
Weight: 200 lbs.
Projected Level: Eugene (High-A)
MLB ETA: 2024

Coming to the 2021 season as one of the youngest players in the Low-A West, Matos proved that age is just a number as he torched the league all season long, often ranking near the top of the batting title. He’s had his first real slump during late August to early September, but he corrected the ship just in time for the playoffs and help lead San Jose to win the Low-A West title.

Simply put, Matos is a professional hitter. Armed with a loose, athletic, and aesthetically pleasing swing, Matos has exceptional spinal flexion in his follow-through and has great plate coverage generating all-field contact. He can swing and miss, but he often makes contact in two-strike counts that keep his strikeouts at a low rate. What was impressive is that even during his slump, Matos never went out of his usual approach in the batter’s box and never developed bad habits. Even with a lofty swing path and a filled-out frame, Matos often only generates average exit velocities.

Matos registers plus home-to-first times on hustle infield hits that give him plenty of range in the outfield. Matos is often the center fielder for San Jose but was playing some right field as well, especially in the second half of the season when the Giants are showcasing Alexander Canario at center field. He is a solid fielder that makes good reads and is accurate when he does not overthrow the ball with his solid-average arm strength.

Unlike his fellow 2018 IFA top signees Marco Luciano and Jairo Pomares, Matos has a fairly high floor with how promising his hit tool and his approach look while also being the more flexible athlete. As it stands, Matos projects as a solid big-league regular, but whether he will be an All-Star relies on how well he can tap to his raw power in the coming years.

Home/SF Giants Prospects