Kent Matthes

Kent Richard Matthes

• Bats Right, Throws Right
• Height 6' 2", Weight 215 lb.
• School University of Alabama
• High School Edgewater High School

• Born January 8, 1987 in Florence, SC USA

BR Minors page

Biographical Information

Kent Matthes was a consensus All-American who peaked at AAA.

Matthes hit .446 as a high school junior, earning Aflac All-American honors. His senior year, he batted .409 with 10 homers and 39 RBI in 23 games, earning All-State honors. Kent hit only .200 with one homer in 55 games as a college freshman.

As a starter his sophomore year, Matthes hit .307/.350/.452 with eight home runs. He had a 11-game RBI streak, second-longest in Alabama school history. That summer, he was named MVP of the Winter Pines Warthogs of the Florida Collegiate Summer League, leading the loop with 7 dingers. His junior year, Matthes batted .303/.361/.504 with 11 homers and 52 RBI in 61 games. In an exhibition series against a Cuban team, Matthes was the only player on either side to go yard in the 3-game tourney.

As a senior, Matthes was one of the best players in college ball, batting .358/.461/.858 with 28 home runs, 67 runs and 81 RBI in 57 games. He stole 13 bases in 15 tries and had 7 outfield assists and no errors. He set Alabama's single-season school record for homers, breaking Doug Duke's 23-year-old record of 27. He led the Southeastern Conference in homers, RBI, total bases (174) and slugging and was named SEC Player of the Year. He and Jason Kipnis were the only consensus All-American outfielders that year. Kent was a finalist for the Golden Spikes Award and Dick Howser Trophy. He was third in NCAA Division I in slugging, tied Bryce Brentz for the most home runs and tied for 11th in RBI.

The Colorado Rockies took him in the fourth round of the 2009 amateur draft. Signed by scout Damon Iannelli, Matthes made his pro debut with the Tri-City Dust Devils and hit .289/.364/.456. He led the Northwest League with 23 doubles. Baseball America named him the best power prospect and #28 overall prospect in the Colorado chain.

Kent stated 2010 badly, hitting only .185/.261/.333 in 21 games for the Asheville Tourists while missing significant time with a knee injury. He rebounded and then some with the 2011 Modesto Nuts, hitting .334/.378/.642 with 39 doubles, 23 home runs and 95 RBI in 93 games. Despite missing the last month with a hand injury, he finished among the California League leaders in average (4th, between Gary Brown and Nick Buss), doubles (tied with Matt Davidson for second), homers (5th), RBI (tied for 7th with Tommy Joseph), extra-base hits (second to Angelo Songco), slugging (first, .004 ahead of Jedd Gyorko) and OPS (2nd, .048 behind Gyorko). He was named an All-Star outfielder alongside Brown and Michael Choice and won MVP honors despite the missed action. He was third in the affiliated minors in slugging, behind Bryan LaHair and Anthony Rizzo. Baseball America named him the league's #20 prospect and #8 in the Rockies system.

In 2012, he slumped to .214/.273/.432 for the Tulsa Drillers, hitting 17 homers as one positive. He was 8th in the Texas League in homers (between Jon Singleton and Roberto Lopez) and 7th in the Rockies chain. In the Arizona Fall League, he starred for the Salt River Rafters, producing at a .235/.330/.471 clip with five dingers in 22 games. He was 5th in the AFL with 18 RBI and tied Kyle Jensen for the home run lead.

He split a resurgent 2013 between Tulsa (.270/.335/.484) and the Colorado Springs Sky Sox (.297/.333/.531). He hit 30 doubles, 20 home runs and 17 steals in 21 tries. He tied Ryan Casteel for 8th in the Rockies chain in doubles and tied Francisco Sosa for 6th in homers. Placed on waivers, he was claimed by the Oakland Athletics. He played in 2014 for the Midland Rockhounds (.241/.295/.471, 15 HR) and the Sacramento Rivercats (.208/.279/.287 in 26 G). He tied Nate Freiman and Ryan Healy for 6th in the A's chain in home runs and tied Jaycob Brugman for 8th in RBI. He was 0 for 6 for the Bravos de Margarita in the Venezuelan League.

In 2015, he hit .233/.294/.358 with only two homers in 57 games for the Nashville Sounds and was let go. He signed with the independent Lancaster Barnstormers and batted .263/.309/.391 with 39 RBI in 66 games. He was 2 for 9 with a double and a run for the German national team in the 2016 World Baseball Classic Qualifiers, starting in right. He hit .234/.287/.389 for the 2016 Sugar Land Skeeters.

Notable Achievements

• 2011 Player of the Year California League Modesto Nuts

Sources

• 2010 Baseball Almanac
• 2010 and 2013 Rockies Media Guides
• Alabama bio
• World Baseball Classic