Matt Nevarez

Matthew Andrew Nevarez

• Bats Right, Throws Right
• Height 6' 5", Weight 220 lb.
• High School San Fernando High School

• Born February 26, 1987 in Mission Hills, CA USA

BR minors page

Biographical information

Matt Nevarez was a minor league relief pitcher that made it onto the Houston Astros 40-man roster in 2010. He played from 2005 to 2015 and returned in 2017.

Nevarez was drafted by the Texas Rangers in the 10th round of the 2005 amateur draft out of San Fernando High School. He was signed by scout Todd Guggiana for a bonus of $58,000 and he began his professional career that year. He pitched for the Arizona League Rangers in 2005, going 2-1 with a 1.61 ERA in 28 innings of work. In 2006, he appeared in only one game for the Arizona League Rangers, posting a 9.00 ERA. He did not play at all in 2007.

Nevarez pitched in 16 games for the Spokane Indians in 2008, going 4-2 with a 4.36 ERA and 50 strikeouts in 43 1/3 innings of work. He began the 2009 season with the Hickory Crawdads, going 1-4 with a 2.83 ERA in 24 appearances with them. On August 18, he was traded to the Astros for Ivan Rodriguez. He finished the season with the Lexington Legends, going 1-0 with a 0.00 ERA in eight games with them. Overall, he went 2-4 with a 2.28 ERA in 42 relief appearances in 2009, striking out 63 batters in 43 1/3 innings of work.

With the Corpus Christi Hooks in 2010, Nevarez went 2-1 with a 3.76 ERA in 36 appearances, striking out 41 batters in 38 1/3 innings. He began 2011 with the Hooks, but after posting a 9.00 ERA in 17 games, was let go and signed with the independent Wichita Wingnuts, with whom he posted a 2.76 ERA in 18 appearances. Overall, he was 0-3 with a 6.27 ERA in 35 appearances, with 42 Ks in 37 1/3 innings. The hurler began 2012 with Wichita, but signed with the Tampa Bay Rays after striking out 45 batters in 26 1/3 innings with the unaffiliated club. He then pitched for the Charlotte Stone Crabs (9 G, 0.57 ERA) and Montgomery Biscuits (3 G, 3.38 ERA), and went 4-3 with a 2.22 ERA in 37 games overall, striking out 68 batters in 44 2/3 innings, while allowing only 22 hits and saving 9 games.

He pitched for the Biscuits again in 2013, going 2-1 with a 2.31 ERA and 13 strikeouts in 11 2/3 innings. The hurler began 2014 back with the Wingnuts and went 4-0 with a 1.59 ERA in 35 games there, saving 23 matches and K-ing 42 batters in 34 innings. The Pittsburgh Pirates signed him in August and assigned him to the Altoona Curve, with whom he went 1-1 with a 1.35 ERA in 6 games. Overall, Nevarez was 5-1 with a 1.55 ERA in 41 games that year, striking out 51 batters in 40 2/3 innings while saving 24 games. He split 2015 between the Wingnuts (13 G, 8 Sv., 0.68 ERA) and Acereros de Monclova in the Mexican League (24 G, 8 Sv., 3.76 ERA). Combined, he had a 2.72 ERA, striking out 55 batters in 39 2/3 innings. After not playing in 2016, he returned to the Mexican League in 2017, going 3-7 with a 9.00 ERA in 43 appearances between two teams.

At all levels, including winter ball, Nevarez went 31-29 with a 3.71 ERA in 358 games (10 starts). In 405 innings, he allowed 304 hits and 256 walks, while striking out 473 batters.