Bryan Mata built optimism for his future in spring training
Bryan Mata is a name many Red Sox fans have become familiar with. The 25-year-old was once one of the organization's top prospects but has battled injuries and inconsistency. That led to him being non-tendered in November and signing a minor-league deal to return to the organization. As the Red Sox trimmed down their roster over the weekend, Mata was one of the cuts, but he made a good impression.
In four outings this spring, Mata posted an 11.57 ERA and struck out seven batters. He allowed six earned runs and walked two batters. While those are not numbers Mata was hoping to finish with, he did seem to impress Red Sox manager Alex Cora.
“He’s throwing the (expletive) out of the ball,” Cora told Chris Cotillo of MassLive on Saturday. “Throwing 98-99 (mph), throwing strikes, good changeup, good slider. He’s throwing strikes. He’s healthy, which is the most important thing.”
During his limited opportunities this spring, Mata showed why the Red Sox are still interested in his stuff. His fastball sat in the upper nineties to go with a changeup that kept hitters off balance. That pitch mix helped make him one of the top six prospects in the system in 2018, 2019, and 2020.
For Mata, the key this season will be staying healthy. He had Tommy John surgery in 2021. From 2022 to 2024, he was limited to just 132 ⅔ innings due to various ailments. The injury bug hit him hard, and Mata saw his stock steadily decline.
When the minor league season begins, Mata will be looking to build on his success. While his statistics may not scream a promotion must happen, Cora liked what he saw.
"He threw well. We didn't play good defense behind him, but I think the stuff was good," Cora said following Mata's outing on Saturday. "He maintained his fastball, and he threw a lot of strikes, so that's another good one for him."
If Mata can build on his success, he could find himself in the majors during the 2025 campaign.
Mikey Romero raises expectations after impressive spring
With the start of the 2025 campaign less than a week away, the Red Sox will soon pack up their things at Fort Myers. The last month has provided plenty of optimism due to a revamped lineup and starting rotation. Fans also got a preview of what the future holds with promising prospects such as Mikey Romero.