By DZ. Filed Aug. 3, 2026.
David Matoma seems to have turned the corner after a rough couple of months, recording three shutout appearances in a row. All the while, his sinker continues to impress, sitting at around 97 mph, fourth-best in the system in June [link] and holding up well as the summer goes on. In a recent game, the right-hander threw multiple pitches over 100 mph, topping out at 101.1. Additionally, Matoma’s groundball percentage continues to tick up, now sitting at an eye-popping 55 percent thanks to the sinker. This figure ranks No. 14 among all Pirates minor leaguers. Relatedly, he is allowing only 0.65 home runs per nine innings (two in 27.2 frames). The results among the three other African minor leaguers, are evidence of the sharp learning curve in professional baseball.
Key
Name (age*), organization, country, team.
*Age is as of Sept 1, 2025 (playing age this season).
Team Prospect Rankings: BA (Baseball America): #; FG (Fangraphs): #; MLB (MLB.com): #.
“NR” denotes not ranked (only included for players listed in other rankings).
Single-A (1)
David Matoma (20), Pittsburgh Pirates. Uganda. Bradenton Marauders. BA: NR; FG: 40; MLB: NR.
Matoma has three consecutive scoreless outings, two of them without a walk, and has climbed back on to Fangraphs’ prospect rankings. In 26 games and 27.2 innings, he has recorded 30 strikeouts while allowing 39 walks and 32 hits. He has an 8.78 ERA.
Rookie League, U.S. Complex Leagues (1)
Armstrong Muhoozi (19), Pittsburgh Pirates. Uganda. FCL Pirates.
Due to injury and sickness, Muhoozi played only 15 games in 2026 before the complex season ended. He is getting additional game time outside of the public realm now as the complexes play unofficial games through the rest of the summer (and potentially the fall). The center fielder hit .196 in 46 at bats, stealing only two bases after pilfering 24 in 36 games last season.
Rookie League, Dominican Complex Leagues (2)
Allen Ajoti (22), Los Angeles Dodgers. Uganda. DSL LAD Bautista.
Ajoti has appeared in 11 games in his first season as a pitcher. He was a catcher-outfielder in the 2024-25 seasons. Ajoti has a 3-2 record and a save in 15.2 innings, striking out 12, walking 11, and allowing 18 hits.
Joseph Deng Thon (19), Los Angeles Dodgers. South Sudan/Uganda. DSL LAD Mega.
Deng has walked 16 batters in his last 7 innings, striking out five. He’s allowed nine hits and 20 runs in that time. He is 0-1 with a 16.20 ERA for the year.
Articles in This Year’s Series
April [link].
May [link].
June [link].
July [link].