While the Red Sox are introducing one of their top pitching prospects to the majors Tuesday night, giving Tanner Houck the start in Miami, they have another hurler in Pawtucket that may be a whole new level of excitement.
Bryan Mata is behind Houck when it comes to making it to the big leagues, but he has jumped to the head of the line in terms of expectations.
At least that was the takeaway after listening to Pawtucket pitching coach Paul Abbott Monday afternoon.
“For me, probably the most exciting guy we have in our organization. He’s probably one of the most exciting guys in baseball, period,” Abbott said of Mata. “Twenty-one years old, touching 99 (mph), sitting 97. Just about everything he throws is top-shelf.
“Obviously he’s a young guy. There are some emotions that get involved. They try and do too much. They are more throwers than pitchers. But he’s pretty advanced, with that being said. I got really excited the other day. Obviously we were all bummed he got that cramp (in a recent outing). But he was taking his eyes off the target, picking up the target a little bit late. We just talked to him about keeping his eyes on the glove all the way through is delivery.all the way until the ball hits the glove. It was really exciting to see in his side session the command really picked up with everything. It was playing up with that last game he pitched. Strikes. His dispersion was much less. He wasn’t spraying it as big. It was impressive and he has hit on it. You could see the excitement with him, saying, ‘Oh yeah! This is cool. The ball is going where I want it with that top-shelf stuff.’… He’s a reason for a lot of excitement for the future because he’s something special.”
Mata doesn’t appear to be on track to making his big-league debut in 2020, having not pitched above Double-A prior to this season.
There is still clearly work to be done in the righty’s development, as well, having managed just a 5.03 ERA in his 11 starts with the Sea Dogs last season.
But after being integrated into both the first major league spring training, and now workouts with fellow members of the Red Sox’ 60-player pool at McCoy Stadium, Mata can see the light at the end of the tunnel.
“What I’m working on is just being more consistent throwing strikes,” Mata said through a translator Monday. “That’s really something I feel will help me in the long run and something I know I need to improve on. So right now I’m just trying to throw more strikes and better buy command.”
Mata is currently slotted as the Red Sox' fourth-ranked prospect by MLB.com, sitting only behind Jeter Downs, Triston Casas and Bobby Dalbec.