Skip to main content

2021 Phillies Top Prospects Countdown: #14 SS Nick Maton

Nick Maton, image-Jay Floyd

Please consider supporting my work and subscribe to my Patreon page.  Your patronage will get you exclusive interviews and other prospect related material as well as early access to all of my other content such as this post.  Thank you.

Drafted in the 7th round out of Lincoln Land Community College in 2017, shortstop Nick Maton has proven to be among the Phillies most promising prospects.

The Illinois native was previously drafted out of high school as well, but chose not to sign.  After signing with the Phillies, he got his pro career underway with the short-season Class A Williamsport Crosscutters in 2017.  In 58 games there, Maton sported a .252 batting average with nine doubles, a triple, two homers, 13 RBI and 10 stolen bases.

The following season in 2018, Maton had a productive season with Class A Lakewood.  He tallied a .256 average with eight home runs, 51 RBI and five steals in 114 contests and was nominated as a South Atlantic League All-Star.

In 2019, Maton opened his regular season campaign with Class A Advanced Clearwater where he was honored as a mid-season All-Star.  In 93 games he sported a .276 batting average with five home runs, 45 RBI and 11 stolen bases.  He was promoted to Double-A Reading in August.  With the Fightin Phils, the six-foot-two 178-pounder batted .210 with two homers and six RBI through 21 games.

He was part of the Phillies' group that participated in the Arizona Fall League following that season.  the experience was advantageous to the up-and-comer despite only appearing in three games for the Scorpions.  He was 4-for-12 with a double and a home run during his playing time there as a second baseman. 

The 24-year-old was a member of the Phillies' taxi squad last year once the minor league season was cancelled due to the pandemic.

Nick is the younger brother of Cleveland relief pitcher Phil Maton and the older brother of college pitcher Jacob Maton.  Nick and his brothers check in one each other regularly, whether things are going good or bad, and offer support in order to help each brother achieve all that he can.

Touting great bat speed, Maton projects as an excellent hitting prospect.  He's got a solid handle of the strike zone, as the Illinois native draws walks very well and does not strike out a ton. 

Defensively, Maton has become more versatile in the past couple seasons, spending time at second base and third base, while remaining primarily a shortstop.  He boasts very good hands and a solid throwing arm.

Speed wise, Maton won't be the fastest guy on a roster, but he is a smart runner, will be a reliable first-to-third guy and may continue to be a stolen base threat as he moves up.

With a calm, poised approach, Maton is always focused on learning the game, doing his work and making improvements on the diamond.

The ceiling for Maton could be as an every day contributor in the big leagues.  Look for him to possibly open the season back at the Double-A level with a move to Triple-A likely as he shows he's mastered things with Reading.

You can keep tabs on this year's Phillies prospects countdown by clicking on this link.

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Diekman a Late Addition to Mesa AFL Roster

On Wednesday, Phillies lefty pitching prospect Jacob Diekman made his Arizona Fall League debut. Diekman, who was drafted in the 30th round of the 2007 amateur draft, was assigned to Mesa late, in order to increase his 2010 innings total, according to Mesa hitting coach Mark Parent, who managed Diekman in Lakewood this past season. Diekman, 23, posted a 2-0 record with 1.90 ERA in 21 games with Class A Lakewood before being promoted to High-A Clearwater on June 24th. In 24 games with the Threshers, Diekman went 0-2 with a 3.66 ERA. Combined, Diekman tossed 55 2/3 innings and held opponents to a .187 batting average against at two levels in 2010. However, after not pitching in an official game since he threw a shutout inning to wrap up the Clearwater season on September 5th, Diekman was unable to record an out as all seven batters he faced reached base, six with hits, one on an error. Diekman was charged with 5 earned runs in the outing. Diekman had spent time at instructional ball from

McGwire Stays Phony, Despite Admitting Drug Use

Mark McGwire made an effort to publicly come clean today, admitting to the world that he took performance enhancing drugs during his playing career. Steroids and human growth hormones were among the drugs that McGwire admitted to using. MLB Network featured a one on one interview with Bob Costas and McGwire on Monday evening. The broadcast was virtually garbage, thanks to McGwire. Ahead is a list of quotes from McGwire's interview. McGwire repeatedly stated his point of view that there were no dishonorable intentions involved when taking steroids, and that he was merely using them as a means to recover from varying ailments. When asked if he felt like he cheated... "As I look back now...I can see how people would say that. As far as the talent goes and the hand-eye coordination, the ability, the genetics I was given...I don't see it." "I did not take this for any strength purposes." Denial. Read on for similar B.S. He whined about the abuse he's taken at

Bubby Rossman's long awaited MLB debut

Eight years after he initially signed a professional contract with the Dodgers and a five-year stretch playing away from affiliated ball, Bubby Rossman became a major leaguer on Wednesday. Added as a substitute for pitcher Kyle Gibson, who is restricted from travel to Canada for the Phillies' series in Toronto, due to his medical inability to be vaccinated from COVID-19, Rossman took the mound for the first time in the majors. Rossman, who was a 22nd round draft selection in 2014 had pitched in 200 professional games before his one-inning outing in the Phillies' 8-2 loss to the Blue Jays. In 27 appearances with Double-A Reading this year, the 30-year-old right-hander has performed well, tallying a 2-2 record with a save, a 3.32 ERA and a .200 batting average against.   The embedded video below features a media session with Rossman from prior to opening day this year, in which the California native discusses his journey through independent baseball and back to affiliated ball wi