Prep Baseball Report

Top-10 Player Profiles: No. 7 Jacob Maton


By Andy Sroka
Staff Writer

Rolling in at No. 7 in our Top-10 Player Profiles of 2018 is the former Chatham-Glenwood ace Jacob Maton. The next time you’ll see Maton on the mound, it’ll be in Conway, S.C., for the Coastal Carolina Chanticleers. He parlayed his highly successful winter and spring into a late-round selection in the MLB Draft’s 39th round, by the Seattle Mariners. Maton opted to stick to his commitment to Coastal instead where he figures to be an early contributor to a program that went 43-19 last year and finished ranked just outside of D1Baseball’s final Top 25 list of the season.

What makes Maton a tantalizing prospect is the combination of his athletic 6-foot-3 frame, filled with the promise of continued projection, and his present stuff. He is able to sit in 88-91 mph range and has touched 93 mph in front of our staff in the past. Maton also possesses an aggressive, tight slider that had a genuine claim to have been dubbed the best breaking ball in the state, and the spin rate data backs that up.

It’s going to be exciting to watch Maton progress in Conway, especially once he carves out his role on this staff after a diligent offseason.

NO. 7: JACOB MATON

Jacob Maton

Class of 2018 / RHP

Player Information

  • Graduating Class: 2018
  • Primary Position: RHP
  • High School: Chatham-Glenwood
    State: IL
  • Summer Team: Midwest Mules
  • Height: 6-3
    Weight: 185lbs
  • Bat/Throw: R/R

Statistics

Pitching
93
Max FB
89 - 91
FB
78 - 80
CB
78 - 82
CH
78 - 80
SL
79 - 82
CT
Position
7.70
60-yard
83
Exit Velo

Scouting Report

6.6.18 - Drafted in the 39th round by the Seattle Mariners out of Chatham-Glenwood HS.

4.11.18 - Coastal Carolina commit, currently the No. 1 ranked pitcher in the Illinois’ 2018 class. 6-foot-3, 185-pound, athletically-built, right-handed pitcher with well-proportioned strength. Overall, electric outing for Glenwood. Went six innings, gave up one hit, one unearned run, struck out 14 and walked two. Was in total control throughout; quiet, confident, competitive demeanor on the mound. After he gave up his one hit and unearned run on the night, he did not throw a fastball under 90 mph. Highly-athletic, repeatable delivery, works on-line and with rhythm. Clean, ultra-quick arm action, comes out of a short window and ball jumps out of the hand. Fastball sat mostly 90-91 mph throughout, touching a handful of 92’s and 93 twice (once in his sixth and final inning). Fastball works straight, has finish and liveliness through the hitting zone. Fastball command was better than last look early in the spring; quality misses and worked it to both sides of the plate at times. Breaking ball is true swing-and-miss, out-pitch. Goes to it frequently, throws it with intent/conviction and can throw it in any count. Blends between a slider and curveball at times, can manipulate it, throws it to both sides of the plate and to left-handed or right-handed hitters, sat 76-79 mph. Did not see a changeup in game. Continues to cement himself as the top arm in Illinois and should be a draft follow throughout the spring.

3.14.18 - Coastal Carolina commit. Currently ranked No. 3 in the Illinois’ 2018 class. 6-foot-3, 185-pound, wiry-strong, athletically built, right-handed pitcher. Started for Chatham-Glenwood in the highly-anticipated matchup against fellow RHP Shane Wilhelm (Missouri commit) and Columbia HS.  Continued to prove he is one of the top arms in the Midwest and should draw pro attention this spring. Went five innings, of perfect baseball while striking out 10. Possesses one of the best breaking balls in the state. Went to it frequently and in any count. Can throw it for strikes, to both sides of the plate and sharpens it up with two strikes. Calls it a slider but ability to manipulate it. Acted like a curveball at times; sharp, late action, tight spin 11/5 to 10/4 shape with depth, ranged from 74-78 mph. Per FlightScope data showed even better spin rate on the slider (2500-to-2600 rpm) this evening than he did at the Super 60. Fastball works straight, slight cut at times, sat 89-90 mph early in the outing, settling in at 87-88 mph. Went to his changeup only a couple of times, straight action, 78 mph.

2.4.18 (Super 60) - Coastal Carolina recruit. 6-foot-3, 185-pound right-handed pitcher with athletic, wiry-strong build and plenty of room for continued physical development. Delivered an overall polished bullpen at the Super 60, showing true starter-type stuff at the next level. Advanced three-pitch mix, controlled the zone with all three, highlighted by a true swing-and-miss slider. Minimal side-step delivery, low effort, rhythm and pace throughout, everything works easily and athletically. Repeats well. Arm is short and compact in the back, ultra-quick out front. Ball comes out of a small window, sneaky-quick out of the hand. Fastball sat 89-91 mph, mostly straight with occasional cut, low effort, consistent strikes; more velocity in the tank. Slider is a difference-maker, arguably the best breaking ball at the Super 60. Throws it aggressively, 78-80 mph, with tight, sharp late-breaking 11/5 action. Dotted the lower-quadrant of the strike zone with it; throws it with extreme confidence. Maton was also remarkably consistent with the spin of his slider, with an average spin rate of 2,429.6, per FlightScope data, with a differentiating velocity lost crossing the plate of 9.03 mph. ... Also filled up the zone with a 79-81 mph changeup, mostly straight with occasional cut, works comfortably to his gloveside. Throws all three pitches with same arm action, out of the same small window. ... Although currently polished, Maton looks like he is just beginning to scratch the surface of his potential. Comes from a baseball family. Both his older brothers were draft picks, and Jacob may be the best of the bunch.

9.5.16 - Verbally committed to Coastal Carolina.


Videos

(2/4/18)

Player News

 

TOP-10 MOST-VIEWED PROFILES