Mark Mathias

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Mark Andrew Mathias

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Biographical Information[edit]

Outfielder Mark Mathias was one of a large number of players to make his major league debut during the pandemic-shortened 2020 season when rosters were in constant flux due to the unusual circumstances. A 3rd-round selection by the Cleveland Indians in the 2015 amateur draft out of Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo, he was sent to the Milwaukee Brewers on November 20, 2019 as part of a minor league trade. He made his debut on August 4th and was a useful utility player for the Brewers, playing five different positions as well as designated hitter in just 16 games. He hit .278 with 2 runs and 4 RBIs. He spent the remainder of the year at the team's alternate training site.

He was ready to compete for a full-time job on the Brewers' bench in 2021 when he injured his shoulder in spring training, making him miss the entire season. At first, he agreed with the team doctors to try a non-surgical rehab, but as it failed to help he underwent surgery in May which meant he had to take plenty of rest. He said he stayed occupied by watching every one of the major league team's games with the audio at full volume, in order to best reproduce the feeling of being present at the ballpark. "My girl worried that was going to be tough on me mentally, but it helped me," he added, explaining that it helped that the Brewers had a great year, winning a division title. he also kept occupied by taking real estate courses, preparing for an eventual post-playing career. When he was ready to return to action in 2022, the major leaguers were locked out of spring training, but by then he had been dropped from the 40-man roster and was able to take part in the team's minor league camp, a boon given how little game action he had had over the previous two seasons. He hit .318 in 50 games for the AAA Nashville Sounds, with 8 homers and 30 RBIs, and was also up with Milwaukee for 6 games, going 2 for 16. On August 1st, he was traded to the Texas Rangers along with another prospect, Antoine Kelly, in return for major league reliever Matt Bush.

Further Reading[edit]

  • Adam McCalvy: "Why a rehabbing utility man watched every Brewers game in 2021", mlb.com, March 4, 2022. [1]

Related Sites[edit]

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