Daniel Zebulon Matthews is putting up outrageous numbers in the Minnesota Twins’ farm system this season. Or rather not putting them up.
Matthews, seeking to become the first player called Zebby in Major League history, has walked two batters all year in the minors. That’s really nothing new for the 24-year-old from Cullowhee, NC. He’s issued only 17 free passes in 153 2/3 innings as a professional.
Despite standing a robust 6-5 and 225 pounds, Matthews almost went unnoticed at Western Carolina for three seasons. The Catamounts went only 62-60 over that time. Matthews had a respectable 13-9 record and 3.49 earned run average. In 183 1/3 innings, he fanned 211 – but walked only 30.
That caught the eye of Twins scouts. Minnesota took a chance on him in the eighth round with the 234th pick overall in the 2022 draft. He got $125,000 to sign.
That investment looks great so far for Minnesota. Matthews has an 11-4 record and 3.10 ERA in 32 pro games, 28 of them starts. He has yielded only 128 hits and fanned 173. He fanned 49 this season before issuing his first walk.
MiLB.com contributor Joe Trezza compared that to the best in the majors since the distance between the mound and home plate was changed in 1894. He found that Corbin Burnes holds the record for most strikeouts without a walk to open a big-league season at 58 for the 2021 Milwaukee Brewers.
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