Luis Matos OF. DOB: 1/28/2002. B-R, T-R. 5'11", 160 lbs.
2021(A): .313/.358/.494, 15 HR, 21 SB, 5.7 BB%, 12.4 K%, 491 PA.
I am not sure I remember the Giants having a true 5-tool CF since Willie Mays. Maybe Chili Davis? Let me introduce you to Luis Matos, who has a chance to be that guy. Not the next Willie Mays, mind you. That's an impossible ask, but Matos has a legitimate shot at being the best Giants CF since Willie Mays. He is coming off a tremendous age 19 season in A ball with a relatively low BB% being the only question mark.
Fangraphs capsule summary: "Matos has plus-plus bat speed and the wheels to stay in center field, with only his aggressive approach holding him back from the 55 tier." In my opinion, that's being just a bit nitpicky for a 19 yo kid. If the low BB% was tied to a high K rate, there would be real reason for worry. As it is, he really only needs to be slightly more selective and has plenty of time to figure it out.
Marco Luciano has more present power and probably more future power potential, but with serious questions about his ability to stick at SS, Luis Matos is closing in fast on a legitimate claim for #1 Giants prospect.
Who were the last TWO 20 year-olds simultaneously rocketing into the Giants' future?
ReplyDeleteIronically, they have similar initials ML & LM.
And another 20 yo, just a month older, may be the next Giant Ace.
Just a year older, signing from the international class of the same year as ML & LM, is another bright light, Jairo Pomares, who may be part of a very exciting OF with 22 yo Heliot Ramos and Luis Matos.
Will Hunter Bishop be too little, too late?
Maybe premature wishfulness, but the future is bright!
You probably have to go all the way back to Gary Mathews/Garry Maddox days to find the Giants farm stocked with a this much young tooled up positional talent.
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