Jô Matumoto

Jô Matumoto

• Bats Left, Throws Left
• Height 5' 10", Weight 170 lb.

• Born February 5, 1971 in Sao Paulo Brazil

BR Minors page

Biographical Information

Jô Matumoto was a pitcher with the Toronto Blue Jays chain.

After years in Japan's industrial leagues, Matumoto became a member of the Brazilian national team in the 1995 Intercontinental Cup, going 1 for 10 as a backup 1B and allowing 7 walks and four runs in four innings. Four of his cousins were teammates - Douglas Matumoto, Silvio Matumoto, Edson Matumoto and William Matumoto. In the 2002 Intercontinental Cup, the southpaw was 0-1 with a 6.30 ERA, walking 8 in 10 innings pitched. He appeared in the 1999 Pan American Games and 2003 Pan American Games.

In the 2005 Baseball World Cup, he went 1-1 with a 3.44 ERA and 18 strikeouts in 18 1/3 IP, walking 9, allowing 16 hits and committing three balks. That year, he was MVP of the South American Championship, won by Brazil.

In the qualifier for the 2008 Olympics, Matumoto was 1-2 with a 4.70 ERA for Brazil. He was hit hard by Canada (6 runs in 7 innings), lost a 2-1 decision to Mexico and got the win (Brazil's only victory in five contests).

The Toronto Blue Jays signed Matumoto as a non-roster invitee for 2007. He made his spring training debut on March 4 in rough form, walking four of six Tampa Bay Devil Rays batters faced and allowing a hit. It was reportedly the first time ever a Brazilian had pitched in any MLB spring training or regular season game.

Jô was assigned to the New Hampshire Fisher Cats and debuted on April 9 against the Connecticut Defenders, striking out three in two scoreless innings of work. He went 3-4 with a save and a 3.54 ERA in 45 games, allowing 74 hits and fanning 77 in 86 1/3 innings but walking 43. In 2008, he pitched 21 games for both New Hampshire (2-1, 3.77) and the Syracuse Chiefs (0-0, 3.55).

Matumoto struggled in the 2008 Americas Baseball Cup, allowing 15 baserunners and 6 runs in 7 innings. He took the loss against the Puerto Rican national team. He also played the field briefly, going 1 for 3.

See MLB.com article on how Matumoto got his shot at the majors