During his July 23 start for Double A Binghamton, which was he sixth on the season, Steven Matz was faced with the base loaded and one out and all he did was strike out the next two batters. Even though that isn’t anything new for the lefty, the way he did it was something special even for himself.
“You know,” a beaming Matz tells Will Sammon of Newsday, “I got a couple of big strikeouts on my curveball yesterday (July 24th).”
Sammon adds that both batters swung and missed badly at his huge dropping curveball.
Las Vegas 51s pitching coach Frank Viola, who coached Matz’s at Savannah in 2013 and Ron Romanick, the Mets’ minor-league pitching coordinator, both approached Matz about throwing the curveball instead of a slider before the 2013 season. Matz tells Newsday, that he still is “getting a feel for” the pitch.
“I don’t think he would have ever thrown a curveball in that situation last year,” said Viola.
“His first thought would’ve been fastball because that’s all he’s needed to put guys away. He didn’t have enough confidence to throw the curveball in a key spot. But I knew it was just a matter of time before that would change,” adds the 51s’ pitching coach.
Recently Paul DePodesta called Matz a “gem” in the farm system, referring to his new found out pitch, “His curveball has come a long way this year.”
On Sunday night, Matz tossed 6.0 innings allowing an unearned run while scattering six hits, walking one and striking out seven.
Matz’ fastball sits at 92 to 94 mph with late movement and now he adds another weapon that has opposing batters swinging and missing. The added confidence in his new pitch should make this top pitching prospect much more dangerous when he takes the mound. The future looks even brighter for Matz.
