Brice Matthews
SS | Bats/Throws: R/R | 5' 10" 190LBS | Age: 22
Draft: 2023 | Rd: 1, #28, Houston Astros | Nebraska
MLB Pipeline Rank
PA AB R H HR SB AVG OBP SLG OPS
2024 48 42 3 6 0 3 .143 .250 .190 .440
Career Minors 500 412 74 102 19 50 .248 .378 .442 .820
AVG HR SB OPS
2024 .143 0 3 .440
Career Minors .248 19 50 .820

Standard Minor League Batting Statistics

SeasonTmLGLGPAABRH2B3BHRRBIBBSOSBCSHBPAVGOBPSLGOPS
2023 2 Teams Minors 35 156 125 22 26 6 0 4 11 25 41 18 4 6 .208 .365 .352 .717
2023 FCL Astros FCL ROK 2 6 5 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 2 1 0 .000 .167 .000 .167
2023 Fayetteville Woodpeckers CAR A 33 150 120 22 26 6 0 4 11 24 40 16 3 6 .217 .373 .367 .740
2024 4 Teams Minors 79 344 287 52 76 15 1 15 44 46 108 32 9 10 .265 .384 .481 .865
2024 FCL Astros FCL ROK 4 18 13 4 6 2 0 0 1 5 2 3 2 0 .462 .611 .615 1.226
2024 Asheville Tourists SAL A+ 21 97 81 17 26 3 0 6 17 14 26 10 3 1 .321 .423 .580 1.003
2024 Corpus Christi Hooks TEX AA 42 181 151 28 38 8 1 9 21 24 61 16 4 6 .252 .376 .497 .873
2024 Sugar Land Space Cowboys PCL AAA 12 48 42 3 6 2 0 0 5 3 19 3 0 3 .143 .250 .190 .440

Scouting Report

draft

Video scouting report »

Scouting grades: Hit: 50 | Power: 55 | Run: 60 | Arm: 50 | Field: 50 | Overall: 50

One of the best athletes in the Big Ten Conference, Matthews batted just .266 in his first two seasons at Nebraska and struggled making the transition from second base to shortstop as a sophomore. He displayed more patience and drove the ball with more authority in the wood-bat Northwoods League last summer, a prelude to batting .359/481/.723 with 20 homers and 20 steals this spring. With his tools, he could go as early as the second round to a team that believes his offensive gains are real. 

Matthews has a quick right-handed swing and the ball jumps off his bat with some of the best exit velocities in the Draft. He has 20-25 homer potential, with most of his power playing to left field. Despite his breakout year, there are still concerns about his propensity to swing and miss, in particular on pitches within the strike zone, and his pull-happy tendencies. 

A Texas all-state quarterback after accounting for 54 touchdowns as a high school senior, Matthews is an impressive athlete with plus speed that he uses well on the bases. He covers ground at shortstop but only has an average arm and struggles with throwing accuracy. He'll get the chance to stick at short in pro ball but projects better as a center fielder or second baseman. 


2024

Scouting grades: Hit: 45 | Power: 55 | Run: 60 | Arm: 50 | Field: 55 | Overall: 50

Matthews hit a soft .266 in his first two seasons at Nebraska and struggled with the transition from second base to shortstop as a sophomore in 2022, then broke out last spring. He reached base in his first 52 games of the season, batted .359/.481/.723 and recorded just the second 20-20 season in Big Ten Conference history. The Astros made the suburban Houston native the first Cornhuskers first-rounder since Alex Gordon in 2005, selecting him 28th overall and signing him for a below-slot $2,478,200.

Matthews' quick right-handed stroke produced some of the best exit velocities in his Draft class, and he has enough pull power to produce 20-25 homers per season. Despite his monster junior year, some scouts worried about his swing-and-miss tendencies, especially within the strike zone, and his pull-heavy approach. After he hit .217/.373/.367 with a 27 percent strikeout rate in Single-A, the Astros had him clean up some swing mechanics a bit in search of more consistent contact.

An impressive athlete who accounted for 54 touchdowns in his senior season as a Texas all-state quarterback, Matthews has plus speed and is aggressive on the bases. He covers plenty of ground at shortstop but comes with questions about his ability to remain there because his arm is merely average and he has issues with throwing accuracy. Houston is working with him to improve his arm stroke and also has given him some time at third base, with some evaluators believing he might wind up in center field or at second base.


2023

Scouting grades: Hit: 50 | Power: 55 | Run: 60 | Arm: 50 | Field: 50 | Overall: 50 

Matthews batted just .266 in his first two seasons at Nebraska and struggled making the transition from second base to shortstop as a sophomore in 2022. He displayed more patience and drove the ball with more authority in the wood-bat Northwoods League last summer, a prelude to batting .359/481/.723 with 20 homers and 20 steals this spring. The suburban Houston native was the first Cornhuskers first-round pick since Alex Gordon in 2005. Matthews went 28th overall to the Astros and signed for a below-slot $2,478,200. 

Matthews has a quick right-handed swing and the ball jumps off his bat with some of the best exit velocities in the 2023 Draft class. He has 20-25 homer potential, with most of his power playing to left field. Despite his breakout year, there are still concerns about his propensity to swing and miss, in particular on pitches within the strike zone, and his pull-happy tendencies.  

A Texas all-state quarterback after accounting for 54 touchdowns as a high school senior, Matthews is an impressive athlete with plus speed that he uses well on the bases. He covers ground at shortstop but only has an average arm and struggles with throwing accuracy. He'll get the chance to stick at short in pro ball but projects better as a center fielder or second baseman.



Awards




Transactions

Team Date Transaction
11/08/2024 SS Brice Matthews assigned to Senadores de San Juan.
09/10/2024 SS Brice Matthews assigned to Sugar Land Space Cowboys from Corpus Christi Hooks.
08/20/2024 Corpus Christi Hooks activated SS Brice Matthews from the 7-day injured list.
08/09/2024 Corpus Christi Hooks placed SS Brice Matthews on the 7-day injured list.
06/18/2024 SS Brice Matthews assigned to Corpus Christi Hooks from Asheville Tourists.
05/31/2024 Asheville Tourists activated SS Brice Matthews from the 7-day injured list.
05/25/2024 Asheville Tourists sent SS Brice Matthews on a rehab assignment to FCL Astros.
05/07/2024 Asheville Tourists placed SS Brice Matthews on the 7-day injured list.
04/02/2024 SS Brice Matthews assigned to Asheville Tourists from Fayetteville Woodpeckers.
03/07/2024 Houston Astros Prospects activated SS Brice Matthews.
02/25/2024 SS Brice Matthews roster status changed by Houston Astros.
02/25/2024 SS Brice Matthews assigned to Houston Astros.
07/28/2023 SS Brice Matthews assigned to Fayetteville Woodpeckers from FCL Astros.
07/28/2023 Fayetteville Woodpeckers activated SS Brice Matthews.
07/26/2023 SS Brice Matthews assigned to FCL Astros.
07/15/2023 Houston Astros signed SS Brice Matthews.
06/14/2023 SS Brice Matthews assigned to College Workout.
02/20/2022 SS Brice Matthews and assigned to Nebraska Cornhuskers.