Scouting Report

Scouting grades: Hit: 45 | Power: 40 | Run: 65 | Arm: 50 | Field: 50 | Overall: 40

Etzel spent a semester at Texas A&M then played two seasons at Panola (Texas) JC, but it was actually a stint in the MLB Draft League that set him up for his professional future. He slashed .371/.463/.586 with 25 steals in 33 games there in 2022, putting himself on scouting radars a year before signing with the Orioles as a 10th-rounder out of Southern Mississippi. Baltimore sent him to the Rays as part of a three-prospect package for starter Zach Eflin in July 2024, then Tampa Bay shipped him to the Marlins for Nick Fortes a year later.

Etzel’s performance dipped after a promotion to Double-A and fell off when he joined the Rays, as he batted .232 with a .692 OPS and a 35 percent strikeout rate in 36 games for Montgomery. The swing-and-miss jump was somewhat alarming, as Etzel typically makes a fair amount of contact (especially against fastballs) and already puts a lot of balls on the ground. Granted, he has the speed to make that work and added value by stealing 45 bases over 119 games last year, but it will require him to boost his slugging percentage with doubles and triples, not home runs.

Despite his above-average speed, Etzel seems likely to settle in at a corner position. He played all three outfield spots at an almost exactly even rate last year and even saw time at first base in an effort to keep his bat in the lineup. He hasn't made much progress at Double-A this year, a telling sign that probably caps his ceiling as a fourth outfielder.

Scouting grades: Hit: 50 | Power: 40 | Run: 65 | Arm: 50 | Field: 50 | Overall: 40

Etzel spent one semester at Texas A&M before transferring to Panola (Texas) JC for two seasons. A strong turn with Williamsport in the MLB Draft League preceded his transfer to Southern Mississippi for 2022-23, and by slashing .317/.381/.472 with seven homers and 23 steals in 66 games, the outfielder helped the Golden Eagles reach the Super Regionals. Etzel went to the Orioles in the 10th round of last year’s Draft, signing for exact slot at $167,000, and was a well-above-average performer at High-A Aberdeen in his first full season, earning a promotion to Double-A in early June. Baltimore traded the 22-year-old to Tampa Bay as part of a three-prospect Deadline package for Zach Eflin.

Batting from the left side, Etzel makes a decent amount of contact from a slightly open stance that allows him to see the ball well. He handled fastballs well in college, and that’s continued into pro ball, even at Double-A. He can be susceptible to the down-and-away slider, however. Still, he is contact-oriented, and that can result in a sizable diet of ground balls (close to 50 percent at Double-A before the trade). That profile can work with a plus-plus runner like Etzel, but his slugging percentage will likely be driven by doubles and triples rather than homers.

The former Golden Eagle puts his wheels to good use by being aggressive on the basepaths, and he was second in the O’s system with 41 steals through 83 games at the time of the deal. The Orioles moved him around all three outfield spots to take advantage of the speed, and Etzel even saw some time at first base in High-A to keep his bat in the lineup. The Rays know a thing or two about versatile speedsters, making this a solid fit.

Video scouting report »

Scouting grades: Hit: 50 | Power: 40 | Run: 65 | Arm: 50 | Field: 55 | Overall: 40 

Etzel spent the first semester of his college career at Texas A&M before playing his first two seasons at Panola (Texas) JC. He batted .433/.509/.711 as a sophomore in 2022, then earned rave reviews in the MLB Draft League, though he wound up going unpicked and headed to Southern Mississippi. He didn't make much impact at the plate in the first half of this spring, then started driving the ball more consistently and helped the Golden Eagles advance to the NCAA super regionals for the second straight year. 

A left-handed hitter, Etzel employs a contact-oriented approach and rarely swings and misses against fastballs. He understands that his best tool is his well-above-average speed and concentrates on getting on base so he can use it. He looked like a slap hitter in the first three months of this season but began incorporating his legs better in his swing afterward and showed enough pop to produce 10-12 homers per year. 

Etzel is an aggressive basestealer who has swiped 84 bases in 92 tries in three college seasons plus the Draft League. He's a solid defender in center field who should be able to stay up the middle in pro ball. He enhances his average arm strength by getting to balls quickly. 

Awards

FCL Player of the Week

Week	Team
08/06/2023

Transactions

Team	Date	Transaction
	08/15/2025	LF Matthew Etzel assigned to Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp from Pensacola Blue Wahoos.
	08/15/2025	Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp activated LF Matthew Etzel.
	08/09/2025	Pensacola Blue Wahoos activated LF Matthew Etzel from the 7-day injured list.
	08/05/2025	Pensacola Blue Wahoos sent LF Matthew Etzel on a rehab assignment to Jupiter Hammerheads.
	07/29/2025	Miami Marlins traded C Nick Fortes to Tampa Bay Rays for LF Matthew Etzel.
	07/29/2025	LF Matthew Etzel assigned to Pensacola Blue Wahoos.
	06/22/2025	Montgomery Biscuits placed LF Matthew Etzel on the 7-day injured list.
	06/22/2025	Montgomery Biscuits placed LF Matthew Etzel on the 7-day injured list.
	03/11/2025	LF Matthew Etzel assigned to Tampa Bay Rays Prospects.
	01/30/2025	LF Matthew Etzel roster status changed by Tampa Bay Rays.
	01/30/2025	Tampa Bay Rays invited non-roster LF Matthew Etzel to spring training.
	01/30/2025	LF Matthew Etzel roster status changed by Tampa Bay Rays.
	07/30/2024	Montgomery Biscuits activated LF Matthew Etzel.
	07/30/2024	Montgomery Biscuits activated LF Matthew Etzel.
	07/30/2024	Montgomery Biscuits activated OF Matthew Etzel.
	07/26/2024	Tampa Bay Rays traded RHP Zach Eflin to Baltimore Orioles for RHP Jackson Baumeister, OF Matthew Etzel and OF Mac Horvath.
	07/26/2024	OF Matthew Etzel assigned to Montgomery Biscuits.
	06/11/2024	OF Matthew Etzel assigned to Bowie Baysox from Aberdeen IronBirds.
	03/07/2024	Baltimore Orioles Prospects activated OF Matthew Etzel.
	02/26/2024	OF Matthew Etzel assigned to Baltimore Orioles.
	09/05/2023	OF Matthew Etzel assigned to Aberdeen IronBirds from Delmarva Shorebirds.
	09/05/2023	Aberdeen IronBirds activated OF Matthew Etzel.
	08/08/2023	OF Matthew Etzel assigned to Delmarva Shorebirds from FCL Orioles.
	08/01/2023	OF Matthew Etzel assigned to FCL Orioles.
	07/19/2023	Baltimore Orioles signed OF Matthew Etzel.
	06/08/2023	OF Matthew Etzel assigned to College Workout.
	04/29/2022	OF Matthew Etzel assigned to Williamsport Crosscutters.