Jesus MATOS, one of the best pitchers in the Italian Baseball League, leaves Fortitudo Bologna to join a Mexican League team (Triple A). The 33-year-old had a 10-3 record with an ERA of 1.77 in 2007. He struck out 89 (14 BB) in 91.2 innings pitched.
Over the course of four years in Italy, all for Bologna, he won 40 games (12 losses) with an ERA of 1.30. He got 516 strikeouts (46 walks) in 451.1 innings pitched.
He was born in San Pedro de Macoris, Dominican Republic. He began his pro career in the Domincan Summer League in 1997 (2-8, ERA 6.36) and 1998 (1-5, ERA 5.22). He came to the United States in 1999. He stayed there until 2001 and appeared in 87 minor league games for Rookie and Single A teams of the Colorado Rockies organisation. He had a combined ERA of 3.96, while striking out 211 in 234 innings pitched. After a year in an independent league in Canada, he came to Europe.
MATOS will join the Vaqueros di Laguna for 2008. They are playing in the Mexican League, listed as Triple A by MILB.com. The team has connections to the Rockies, who had won the National League in 2007. The season will start in two months. It could be his last chance to have success in professional ball.
Obviously he will leave a big hole in the pitching staff of Fortitudo and it should be difficult to replace him.
Comment by Mischa Gelman
January 20, 2008 | 6:10 pm
Matos actually pitched in the minor leagues from 1997-2001; his first two years were in Rookie Ball in the Dominican Republic. See http://www.baseball-reference.com/bullpen/Jesus_Matos
Comment by philipp
January 20, 2008 | 6:59 pm
Thank you for the information.
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February 8, 2008 | 4:37 pm
[...] reported two weeks ago that Jesus MATOS would leave Fortitudo Bologna to join a Mexican Summer League Club. Now there is a possibility for a return of [...]