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| Josué Matos | |
|---|---|
| Pitcher | |
| Born: (1978-03-15)15 March 1978 (age 47) Mayagüez,Puerto Rico | |
Bats: Right Throws: Right | |
| Teams | |
| Puerto Rico national baseball team |
Josué Matos (born March 15, 1978) is aPuerto Rican professionalbaseball player. Matos has spent over a decade in pro baseball and has pitched at times for thePuerto Rico national baseball team. He is currently the pitching coach for theBrooklyn Cyclones.
Matos was picked in the 27th round of the1996 amateur draft by theSeattle Mariners as adraft-and-follow selection. Theright-hander spent a season atjunior college then made his pro debut in 1997 with theAZL Mariners (1–0, Sv, 4.17, 50 K, 6 BB in 451⁄3 IP) andEverett AquaSox (2.08 in 2 G). The right-hander returned to the AZL Mariners for '98 and went 3–0 with a 2.20 ERA in 17 games, fanning 51 batters in 41 innings while giving up just 29 hits.
In 1999, the Mayagüez native became a starter and was 9–9 with a 4.63 ERA for theWisconsin Timber Rattlers; hestruck out over 3 times as many as he walked and averaged nearly a K per inning. In the winter of 1999–2000, Josue had a 3-3, 2.79 record for theSan Juan Senators of thePuerto Rican League. Returning to the US, he split time between theLancaster JetHawks (3–3, 2.64, 93 K in 882⁄3 IP) andNew Haven Ravens (4–5, 3.63).
Matos' rise was slowed in 2001 as he missed a full season due to injury. He returned in 2002 to pitch for theSan Antonio Missions (1–0, 4.91 in 3 G) andTacoma Rainiers (4–7, 5.92, .300 average allowed), struggling in hisAAA debut. In '03, Josue returned to the bullpen, where he excelled for San Antonio, going 7–2 with 4 saves and a 2.24 ERA in 48 outings. He held opponents to a .187 average and fanned 104 in 881⁄3 IP.
In 2004, Matos moved to theToronto Blue Jays organization and pitched for theSyracuse SkyChiefs. There, he was 7–6 with a 5.04 ERA in a starting role primarily. He led Jays farmhands in walks (56). In the winter of 2004–2005, Josue went 5–2 with a 2.63 ERA for theGigantes de Carolina; he tiedEvan Thomas andJonathan Albaladejo for thePuerto Rican League lead in victories. He split his time in the Jays system between Syracuse (5–3, 6.63, .313 opponent average) and theNew Hampshire Fisher Cats (0–1, 1.45 in 9 G, .206 opponent average). He also moved to thePhiladelphia Phillies organization during the year, going 3–0 with a 1.23 ERA in 7 games for theReading Phillies.
Matos pitched for Puerto Rico in the2005 Baseball World Cup but went 0–3 with a 4.76 ERA, losing toTeam USA,Japan andAustralia. The rest of Puerto Rico's staff was 6–2. He did better in the 2005–2006 Puerto Rican League, going 4–0 with a 2.27 ERA for Carolina and finishing second in ERA behindKyle Middleton.
Matos was selected to pitch for Puerto Rico in the2006 World Baseball Classic and pitched one game, in Puerto Rico's 12-2 upset of theCuban national baseball team. Josue relievedDicky Gonzalez to begin the bottom of the 5th. He walkedYoandy Garlobo and allowed a single toCarlos Tabares. He then retiredEduardo Paret on a grounder, gotMichel Enríquez to pop up then gotYulieski Gourriel to fly out.Willie Collazo relieved him in the 6th.
In the regular season, he was with theNewark Bears (0–1, 2.31 in 2 G) andMonclova Steelers (4.15 in 1 G). He spent 2007 with theNorth Shore Spirit (0–2, 5.74) andAlexandria Aces (0–1, 7.56), again failing to hold down a regular spot anywhere.
The veteran hurler pitched for Puerto Rico in the2008 Americas Baseball Cup, which his country won. He outdueledFrancisco Campos of Mexico 2–1 in the opener but lasted just one inning against Panama. He went 1–0 with a 2.25 ERA in the event.
In the 2008–2009 Puerto Rican League, Matos had a 5–2, 2.89 record for Carolina. He then won his only appearance in the2009 Caribbean Series, tossing 5 shutout innings of 2-hit ball but walking sixLicey Tigers. He is onPuerto Rico's provisional roster for the 2009 World Baseball Classic.
Matos was named as the pitching coach for theKingsport Mets of theNew York Mets organization for the 2018 season.
