J.J. Matijevic

Joseph John Matijevic

• Bats Left, Throws Right
• Height 6' 0", Weight 206 lb.
• School University of Arizona
• High School Norwin High School
• Debut April 22, 2022

• Born November 14, 1995 in Latrobe, PA USA

BR page

Biographical Information

Infielder J.J. Matijevic was a second-round pick by the Houston Astros in the 2017 amateur draft out of the University of Arizona. He had earlier been drafted by the Boston Red Sox in the 22nd round of the 2014 amateur draft, but declined their offer in order to attend college. He was the first ever player to be drafted out of his high school, Norwin High School in North Huntingdon, PA.

He made his major league debut under tough circumstances on April 22, 2022, for the Astros against the Toronto Blue Jays. Having been called up from the minors earlier that day when José Altuve was placed on the injured list, he was called upon as a pinch-hitter for C Martin Maldonado with two outs in the 9th and two men on base, including potential tying run José Siri on third base. He was facing hard-throwing closer Jordan Romano but was completely overmatched, striking out swinging on four pitches as Houston lost the game, 4-3. He appeared only one more time, going 0 for 4 in a start at first base on April 27th, before returning to the minors, where he hit very well, batting .313 with 12 homers in 39 games with the AAA Sugar Land Space Cowboys. He returned to Houston on June 15th, and in his second career start, as the DH against the Chicago White Sox in a nationally-televised Sunday night game on June 19th, and collected his first career hit, which happened to be a homer off Michael Kopech in the 4th inning.

His name is not pronounced ma-ti-YE-vitch, as would be expected, but rather matt-ih-SHEV-ick.

Notable Achievements

• Won one World Series with the Houston Astros in 2022 (he did not play in the World Series)

Related Sites

• J.J. Matijevic on mlb.com
• University of Arizona bio