Matos hoping to revive career as member of Pirates
TAMPA, Fla. (AP) – Once considered a rising star with the Baltimore Orioles, Luis Matos is trying to get his career back on track with the Pittsburgh Pirates. Matos spent all or parts of six seasons with the Orioles from 2001-06 and was their primary center fielder from 2003-05.
However, after being released by both the Orioles and Washington Nationals last season, Matos is trying to win a bench job with the Pirates. He was signed as a minor league free agent in January.
“He’s a very talented guy who has had some major league success in the past,” Pirates general manager Dave Littlefield said. “He’s still young enough to have some upside, so we thought he was worth taking a shot on.”
The 28-year-old Matos has had a solid spring, hitting .312 (10-for-32) after going 1-for-4 with a double on Sunday in an 8-1 loss to the New York Yankees.
“I feel good and the biggest thing is that I feel healthy,” Matos said. “It’s hard to play when you’re hurt, and it seems like injuries have held me back a lot in my career.”
Throughout his time in Baltimore, Matos was plagued by injuries, including a broken bone in his left wrist, a broken right ring finger, a broken bone in his right shin and a left shoulder injury that required surgery.
“People ask me if I get frustrated, but I never use that word,” Matos said. “I don’t get frustrated because I am still a young guy. A lot of guys don’t even get their major-league careers started until they are 27 or 28. Look at Gary Matthews Jr. Look at my old teammate in Baltimore, Melvin Mora. He’s an All-Star now. My best years are still ahead of me, especially if I stay healthy.”
Matthews was released four times before blossoming into an All-Star with Texas last season at age 32. He then signed a five-year, $50-million contract with the Los Angeles Angels as a free agent in the offseason.
Mora, who has appeared in two All-Star Games, did not become the Orioles’ regular third baseman until he was 28.
“You look at the contract Gary Matthews got and there is no reason to think it can’t be you someday,” Matos said. “It takes some guys longer to reach their full potential than other guys.”
Matos will have to do much better than last season to even dream of signing a Matthews-like contract as he hit a combined .206 with two homers and five RBIs in 69 games with the Orioles and Nationals.
Yet, Matos is capable of playing above-average defense at all three outfield positions, swings a potentially powerful bat from the right side and has outstanding speed.
“The Pirates told me when they signed me that I was kind of guy they were looking for, and I told them I thought I could do a lot of things to help them,” Matos said.