First round picks are usually used to build a franchise. Carlos Correa, Kyle Tucker, Alex Bregman, etc.
Unfortunately for the Astros, the last first round picks by the Astros to see significant time in Houston were Alex Bregman and Kyle Tucker way back from the 2015 draft. They traded off the first round picks from 2017, 2018 and 2019. They didn’t have a first round pick in 2020 or 2021, and their first round pick in 2022, Drew Gilbert, was traded at the deadline in 2023. Their 2023 first round pick, shortstop Brice Matthews, is looking like a player they will want to keep and build the future team with.
Brice Matthews, who is a Houston native, attended the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. While he had some good numbers as a freshman and sophomore, he put himself on the map with a monster junior season. In 54 games for the Huskers, Matthews hit .359 with 20 homers, 67 runs batted in and 20 stolen bases. The 20 home runs was the biggest change for him, as he just 12 in his first 84 college games.
“Not trying to do too much, not trying to swing as hard as I can,” Matthews said about his increased power. “Growing up I always kind of had to swing hard because I wasn’t the biggest, fastest, strongest but getting older, knowing my body and kind of filling out a little bit I understood what kind of power I had.”
Brice moved to Houston when he was 8 years old and although the Astros weren’t very good at that time, they went through the rebuild and he was able to see a winning team in high school. Getting drafted to the hometown team always makes for a good story. Matthews had some contact with the Astros before the draft though, so it wasn’t out of the blue.
“A little bit at the draft combine. I had a conversation and interview with them [Astros] and then a little after talking to my agent I knew they had interest,” Matthews said.
Matthews started this year out in Asheville, which is the High-A affiliate for the Astros. He played in 8 games before missing about a week and a half. He came back for two games but found himself on the injured list due to a back injury. He was out for a little over a month before getting back to Asheville but the work continued.
“[Getting] healthy and just trying to stay on my back leg. Holding my ground as long as I could,” Matthews said about what he worked on while he was out. “I think that was the biggest thing for me.”
When he returned, he came back and flourished immediately. In his first game post-injury, Matthews hit two home runs. Two days later, he hit two more home runs and earning South Atlantic League player of the week in his first week back from injury.
“One of my priorities, having my faith in God and use that as my number one thing, and just being able to know, I’m able to do the things I’m able to do and just have fun and play baseball,” Matthews said on his quick turnaround off the injured list.
Now in Corpus Christi, and back in the state of Texas, Matthews family has been able to come see him play with the short 3 hour drive down to Whataburger Field. While only playing in five games now in Double-A, he has already seen success hitting .294 with two doubles, three runs batted in and three stolen bases.
“They don’t make many mistakes,” Matthews said on the difference between Double-A pitchers compared to High-A pitchers. “But other than that, it’s still baseball. Everything’s been the same having all the guys, good to be around them and play baseball and have fun close to my family.”
Matthews was primarily a shortstop in college, and was drafted at that position, although he has some versatility in his game. He played third base and outfield in high school and shortstop, second base in college. Now in the Astros organization, they have him getting reps at third base.
“In high school I played third base and outfield and moved all around,” Matthews said. “I’m pretty comfortable wherever. [I] try to be an athlete out there, have fun and let my athleticism take care of everything.”
It is very early in his professional career, but he is showing why he was a first round pick in 2023. Brice Matthews represents more than just a talented prospect for the Astros—he embodies the narrative of hometown pride and the potential to contribute significantly to a storied franchise’s future success.
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