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

Eric B Needs to be Cut (and My Name is Rakim)

While the Phillies are on a hot streak this month, one player on the team is not. Eric Bruntlett is 1-for-12 in July. Since the start of May, Bruntlett's apex in batting average has been .167 on June 14th. Bruntlett's ineptitude can be tolerated no longer. Get rid of this guy NOW! Eric B. is the 2009 Endy Chavez. Remember Endy...the guy who in 2005 managed just 2 hits in his final 42 games played as a Phillie? That is about the sort of output the Phillies are getting from Bruntlett, and it's time to fix this void. Julio Lugo was designated for assignment last week by the Red Sox and is expected to become a free agent. The Metropolitans are rumored to be interested. Why wouldn't the Phillies be interested in a guy who could surely outhit Bruntlett? Lugo was hitting .284 through 37 games played this season with Boston. Suspended Lehigh Valley IronPig Pablo Ozuna is eligible to return next Wednesday. Ozuna is batting .294 through 51 games at triple A. Miguel Cairo is also...

5th spot, Wall, Old timers, Links

The race for the Phillies' fifth starter spot is still on. While it's not fully fair to compare Grapefruit League stats, when some of the pitchers have had "B game" and scrimmage outings mixed in, Kyle Kendrick and Carlos Carrasco look to be falling behind Chan Ho Park and "Jay" Happ. Happ added to his solid Grapefruit League stats (2.45 ERA, 1.09 WHIP in 4 games) today against the Rays. Pitching coach Rich Dubee had been displeased with Kendrick even before he surrendered 8 earned runs in 3 innings of work yesterday against the Braves. Park has been working on improving his change up, with (Coach) Jamie Moyer. Park noticed Moyer's location control on his change, so he sought out Moyer to teach him the grip and positioning of the ball. Moyer, of course, feels good about helping anyone on the Phils' staff. Park has been coached by greats like Nolan Ryan with the Rangers and Sandy Koufax with the Dodgers, so Moyer is in great company. Park is working h...

Yankees Fans Misled By Pepsi Promotion

**** Today, New York Yankees fans attended a Pepsi promotion in Times Square hoping for chances to win opening day tickets to the new stadium, but the tickets, which were difficult to track down due to poor organization on Pepsi's part, were actually for a game in June. Furthermore, the 250 pairs that were promised were actually only 100 pairs. The fans, who were made to sprint through traffic over multiple city blocks when locations for the promotion changed, quickly turned against the soda brand by pooring out their beverages and chanting anti-Pepsi phrases. Yankees fans are even threatening a boycott of Pepsi. An appearance by Yankee great Goose Gossage could not even settle the angry mob, as he had to be whisked away, as a precaution, according to the Daily News . Ooo , I'd hate to see what "the worst fans in sports" (Philadelphia fans) would have done to their free Pepsi cans and beloved reliever in that situation. Because this happened in a non-Philly city, th...