Matos Debuts With Padres

Published on June 3, 2002 under Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I)
Portland Forest Dragons News Release


DURHAM, N.C. - Former Sioux City and Thunder Bay outfielder Julius Matos played his first game for the San Diego Padres on Friday.

Matos was used as a pinch-hitter and singled in his only at bat.

With the appearance, Matos became the 26th former Northern League in 10 years to reach the major leagues.

Matos, 27, had his contract purchased from Triple-A Portland where he was batting .312 in 186 at bats. He notched 17 doubles, four home runs, 26 RBI and one stolen base.

The Cleveland Indians originally selected Matos in the 16th round of the 1994 draft out of South Suburban College in Illinois. For two seasons he played for separate Single-A teams before being released and signing with the Thunder Bay Whiskey Jacks in 1996.

Matos hit .275 with three homers playing at his natural position of shortstop for the Jacks. He posted a .266 batting average and six homers in 1997 with Sioux City before the Arizona Diamondbacks purchased his contract on Sept. 8, 1997.

The Diamondbacks placed Matos at Single-A High Desert where he hit .301 in 1998 and moved him to Double-A El Paso for the 1999 campaign. After hitting .280 in El Paso with five homers, San Diego selected Matos in the Rule V Minor League Draft. He started in the Padres organization at Double- A Mobile in 2000 and was moved up to Portland midway through the 2001 season.

A career .275 hitter in professional baseball, Matos has 126 career doubles, 30 homers and 63 stolen bases.

Matos is the third former Northern League to make his major league debut in 2002. Right-handed pitcher Terry Pearson made the Detroit Tigers opening day roster and right-handed pitcher Nate Field was recalled by Kansas City in April. Both have since been sent back to the minor leagues.

Seven additional former Northern League players are on big league rosters now: OF J.D. Drew (St. Louis), OF Kevin Millar (Florida), SS Rey Ordonez (New York Mets), LHP Eddie Oropesa (Arizona), LHP Joey Eischen (Montreal), LHP Scott Stewart (Montreal) and RHP Jeff Zimmerman (Texas disabled list).

Eischen was recalled in April while Northern League alumnus LHP Mike Porzio was sent to Triple-A by the Chicago White Sox in May.

Considered the pre-eminent independent league in the United States and Canada, the 18-team Northern League has moved more than 400 players to major league organizations since its inception in 1993.

Share: Facebook | Twitter/X | LinkedIn | Reddit | Email



Arena Football League (1987-2008) Stories from June 3, 2002


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

OurSports Central