Jorge Mateo

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Jorge Mateo
Mateo with the Tampa Yankees in 2016
Free agent
Shortstop
Born: (1995-06-23) June 23, 1995 (age 30)
Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic
Bats: Right
Throws: Right
MLB debut
August 13, 2020, for the San Diego Padres
MLB statistics
(through 2025 season)
Batting average.221
Home runs30
Runs batted in121
Stolen bases106
Stats at Baseball Reference Edit this at Wikidata
Teams
Career highlights and awards

Jorge Luis Mateo (born June 23, 1995) is a Dominican professional baseball shortstop who is a free agent. He has previously played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the San Diego Padres and Baltimore Orioles. He made his MLB debut in 2020.

Career

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New York Yankees

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Mateo signed with the New York Yankees as an international free agent on January 28, 2012, receiving a $250,000 signing bonus.[1] He made his professional debut that season for the Dominican Summer League Yankees 2 and batted .255 with one home run and eight RBI in 14 games. Mateo played for the Dominican Summer League Yankees 1 in 2013, compiling a .287 batting average with seven home runs and 26 RBI in 64 games; he played for the rookie-level Gulf Coast League Yankees in 2014,[2][3] slashing .276/.354/.397 in 15 games. In 2015, while playing for the Charleston RiverDogs and the Tampa Yankees, Mateo posted a combined .278 batting average with two home runs, 11 triples, 40 RBI, and 82 stolen bases across 117 total appearances between both affiliates.[4] He was named Florida State League Player of the Week for the week of July 17.[5]

Mateo was ranked by Baseball America as the top Yankees minor league prospect ahead of Gary Sánchez and Aaron Judge prior to the 2016 campaign.[6] He also received a non-roster invitation to spring training.[7] He spent the season back with Tampa, where he was a Mid-Season All-Star[5] and was named to appear in the All-Star Futures Game.[8] However, on July 6, 2016, Mateo was suspended for two weeks due to violating the team's code of conduct policy, and could not participate in the Futures Game.[9] He reportedly expressed his displeasure to Yankees executives about not being promoted to Double-A Trenton.[10] Mateo finished 2016 with a .254 batting average, eight home runs, 36 stolen bases, and 47 RBI.[11] He spent time at second base following the arrival of Gleyber Torres.[12] The Yankees added Mateo to their 40-man roster after the season.[13] Mateo began 2017 with Tampa and was promoted to the Trenton Thunder in late June. He was a Mid-Season All-Star and Eastern League Player of the Week for the week of July 2.[5]

Oakland Athletics

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On July 31, 2017, the Yankees traded Mateo, along with Dustin Fowler and James Kaprielian to the Oakland Athletics, in exchange for Sonny Gray.[14] Oakland assigned him to the Double-A Midland RockHounds, and he finished the season there. In 129 total games split between Tampa, Trenton, and Midland, he batted .267 in 532 at-bats with 12 home runs, 18 triples, 57 RBI, and 52 stolen bases.[15]

In January 2018, Mateo was named the 64th best prospect in baseball.[16] In April, Baseball America named him as having the best speed of all minor league players, ahead of Phillies outfielder Roman Quinn.[17] That season, playing for the Triple-A Nashville Sounds, he hit .230/.280/.353 in 470 at-bats with three home runs, 16 triples, 45 RBI, and 25 stolen bases while being caught 10 times.[18]

Mateo opened the 2019 season with the Triple-A Las Vegas Aviators.[19] Mateo was named to the 2019 All-Star Futures Game.[20] In 2019 he led the minor league in triples, with 14.[21] Mateo was included in the Athletics' 60-man player pool prior to the start of the 2020 season.[22]

San Diego Padres

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On June 30, 2020, the Athletics traded Mateo to the San Diego Padres in exchange for Junior Pérez.[23] Following the trade, he was considered San Diego's 13th best prospect.[24] He was activated and started his first career game as the left fielder on August 13. On August 27, in the second game of a doubleheaders against the Seattle Mariners, Mateo recorded his first MLB hit on a ground rule double.[25] He hit just .185/.269/.454 in 22 games in the big leagues that year.

Mateo hit his first major league home run on April 29, 2021, against the Arizona Diamondbacks.[26] After hitting .207/.250/.322 through 57 games, he was designated for assignment by the Padres on August 3.[27]

Baltimore Orioles

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On August 5, 2021, Mateo was claimed off of waivers by the Baltimore Orioles.[28] In 2021, he batted .247/.293/.376 with four home runs, 14 RBI, and 10 stolen bases in 89 games between the Padres and Orioles. He was shut down for the season in mid-September after experiencing right lumbar inflammation.[29]

In 2022, Mateo started the year on the Orioles' Opening Day roster at shortstop.[30] He finished the season batting .221/.267/.379 with 13 home runs, 50 RBI, and 35 stolen bases in 494 at-bats. Mateo led the major leagues with the most stolen bases in the regular season of 2022, trailed by teammate Cedric Mullins by one.[31] Mateo won the Fielding Bible Award as the best defensive shortstop in MLB for the 2022 season, making him the first Oriole to win the award at that position.[32]

Mateo achieved a 1.062 OPS through April of the 2023 season, but he lost playing time to Gunnar Henderson in 2023 after hitting just .105/.128/.132 through 11 games in May.[33][34] He concluded the regular season with 32 stolen bases and .217 batting average and .617 OPS, having more success batting against left-handed pitching.[35] Following injuries to both centerfielders Mullins and Aaron Hicks, Mateo made his Orioles centerfield debut on August 5.[36] He joined the team in the postseason 2023 ALDS against the Texas Rangers[37] and went 4-for-4 in Game 2, becoming just the 6th player in MLB history to get four hits while batting ninth.[38] After the season, Mateo agreed to a $2.7 million contract to avoid arbitration.[39]

Mateo began the 2024 campaign with Baltimore, and hit .229/.267/.401 with five home runs, 18 RBI, and 13 stolen bases across 68 games. In a July 23 game against the Miami Marlins, Mateo departed with an injury after colliding with Gunnar Henderson while trying to field a ground ball.[40] After the injury was diagnosed as a left elbow subluxation,[41] Mateo was transferred to the 60–day injured list on July 30.[42] His season officially ended on August 28 when he underwent left elbow ulnar collateral ligament reconstruction.[43]

In the offseason, Mateo agreed to a $3.55 million contract to avoid arbitration that added a club option for the 2026 season.[44] He returned from injury in time to make the Orioles' Opening Day roster in 2025. On April 20, 2025, Mateo made his positional player pitching debut in the 8th inning of a game against the Cincinnati Reds, allowing a grand slam to Noelvi Marte to contribute to the Orioles' 24-2 loss.[45] In 31 games to begin the year, he batted .180/.231/.279 with one home run, three RBI, and 14 stolen bases. On June 10, Mateo was placed on the injured list due to left elbow inflammation.[46] On July 1, while still on the IL, it was announced that Mateo had suffered a hamstring strain and would miss 8-to-10 weeks as a result;[47] he was transferred to the 60-day injured list on July 6.[48] Mateo was activated from the injured list on September 2.[49] He finished the season with a .177/.217/.266 batting line, one home run, three RBI, and 15 stolen bases. On November 3, the Orioles declined Mateo's club option, making him a free agent.[50]

References

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  1. ^ Kuty, Brendan (October 14, 2014). "Yankees prospects: Jorge Mateo impresses scouts". NJ.com. Retrieved November 23, 2014.
  2. ^ "State of the organization: Shortstop". LoHud. October 10, 2014. Retrieved October 28, 2014.
  3. ^ "19-Year Old Jorge Mateo Is The Yankees' Shortstop Of The Future". Fangraphs. October 13, 2014. Retrieved October 28, 2014.
  4. ^ Kuty, Brendan (May 16, 2016). "Where Yankees' Jorge Mateo needs work may surprise you". NJ.com. Retrieved July 27, 2025.
  5. ^ a b c "Jorge Mateo Stats, Fantasy & News". MLB.com. Retrieved December 9, 2023.
  6. ^ Jennings, Chad. "Jorge Mateo tops Baseball America's Top 10 Yankees prospects". The Journal News. Retrieved December 9, 2023.
  7. ^ "Top prospects among Yanks' 25 non-roster invitees". MLB.com. Retrieved December 9, 2023.
  8. ^ "Jorge Mateo Named to 2016 All-Star Futures Game". Minor League Baseball. Archived from the original on June 30, 2016. Retrieved July 31, 2017.
  9. ^ Tripodi, Chris. "Jorge Mateo faces 2 week suspension". MiLB. Archived from the original on July 8, 2016. Retrieved July 6, 2016.
  10. ^ King III, George A. (July 7, 2016). "Yankees' top prospect mouthed off to execs and got suspended". New York Post. Retrieved December 10, 2023.
  11. ^ "Jorge Mateo Stats, Highlights, Bio - MiLB.com Stats - The Official Site of Minor League Baseball". Minor League Baseball. Retrieved July 31, 2017.
  12. ^ NJ.com, Randy Miller | NJ Advance Media for (July 27, 2016). "Everything you need to know about Yanks' Gleyber Torres". nj. Retrieved December 10, 2023.
  13. ^ "Yankees add six prospects to 40-man roster". New York Yankees. Archived from the original on July 30, 2017. Retrieved July 31, 2017.
  14. ^ Trezza, Joe (July 31, 2017). "Yankees get Gray from A's for 3 prospects". MLB.com. Archived from the original on August 3, 2017. Retrieved July 31, 2017.
  15. ^ "Jorge Mateo Stats, Highlights, Bio - MiLB.com Stats - The Official Site of Minor League Baseball". Minor League Baseball. Retrieved March 25, 2018.
  16. ^ "Top 100 MLB Prospects 2018 | BaseballAmerica.com". January 23, 2018. Archived from the original on January 23, 2018. Retrieved December 10, 2023.
  17. ^ Glaser, Kyle (April 4, 2018). "Best Tools In The Minors". College Baseball, MLB Draft, Prospects - Baseball America. Retrieved December 10, 2023.
  18. ^ Jorge Mateo Minor & Winter Leagues Statistics & History | Baseball-Reference.com
  19. ^ Wright, Alex (April 7, 2019). "Aviators ready to take flight on new endeavors". unlvfreepress.com. The Scarlet & Gray Free Press. Archived from the original on June 29, 2019. Retrieved June 29, 2019.
  20. ^ Jim Callis (June 28, 2019). "Here are the 2019 Futures Game rosters". MLB.com. Retrieved June 29, 2019.
  21. ^ "2019 Register Batting Leaders". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved November 9, 2019.
  22. ^ Hall, Alex (June 28, 2020). "A's announce initial 60-man player pool for 2020 season". Athletics Nation. Retrieved December 10, 2023.
  23. ^ "Padres acquire Jorge Mateo from Athletics for player to be named later". June 30, 2020.
  24. ^ "Prospects in the Padres' 2020 player pool". Minor League Baseball. Retrieved December 10, 2023.
  25. ^ "Machado makes his MVP case vs. Mariners". MLB. September 27, 2020. Retrieved September 22, 2020.
  26. ^ "Padres 12-3 Diamondbacks (Apr 28, 2021) Game Recap". ESPN. Retrieved December 10, 2023.
  27. ^ "Padres Designate Jorge Mateo for Assignment". August 3, 2021.
  28. ^ "Orioles Claim Jorge Mateo off Waivers from Padres". August 5, 2021.
  29. ^ "Orioles' Jorge Mateo: Out for season with lumbar injury". CBSSports.com. September 14, 2021. Retrieved December 10, 2023.
  30. ^ Silver, Zachary. "Orioles set 2022 Opening Day roster". MLB.com. Retrieved December 10, 2023.
  31. ^ "On final day, Mateo and Mullins contending for AL stolen base title". October 5, 2022.
  32. ^ "Complete List of 2022 Fielding Bible Winners". November 2, 2022.
  33. ^ "Orioles' Jorge Mateo: Sits amid slump". CBSSports.com. May 14, 2023. Retrieved December 10, 2023.
  34. ^ SK, Andrea (October 26, 2023). "Jorge Mateo still has the capacity to wow, but he was a casualty of the Orioles' youth movement". Camden Chat. Retrieved December 10, 2023.
  35. ^ "Jorge Mateo States". Retrieved January 5, 2024.
  36. ^ "Jorge Mateo gets rare start in center". MLB.com. August 6, 2023.
  37. ^ Connon, Sam (October 7, 2023). "Pitcher John Means Left Off of Baltimore Orioles ALDS Roster Due to Elbow Soreness". Fastball. Retrieved December 10, 2023.
  38. ^ Connon, Sam (October 9, 2023). "Shortstop Jorge Mateo Makes Playoff History at Bottom of Baltimore Orioles' Lineup". Fastball. Retrieved December 10, 2023.
  39. ^ "Orioles avoid arbitration with INF Jorge Mateo and 3 other players with 1-year agreements - CBS Baltimore". www.cbsnews.com. November 18, 2023. Retrieved December 10, 2023.
  40. ^ Leckie, Paige (July 24, 2024). "Jorge Mateo exits game vs. Marlins with injury". MLB.com. Retrieved December 27, 2024.
  41. ^ Meyer, Jacob Calvin (July 27, 2024). "Orioles' Jorge Mateo confident he can return this season; Samuel Basallo now No. 4 prospect in MLB". Baltimore Sun. Retrieved October 29, 2024.
  42. ^ "Orioles' Jorge Mateo: Shifts to 60-day IL". CBSSports.com. July 30, 2024. Retrieved October 29, 2024.
  43. ^ Rill, Jake (August 29, 2024). "Jorge Mateo out for rest of 2024 season". MLB.com. Retrieved October 29, 2024.
  44. ^ Franco, Anthony (January 28, 2025). "Orioles Sign Jorge Mateo To Extension". MLBtraderumors.com. Retrieved June 12, 2025.
  45. ^ "Jorge Mateo takes the mound in the 8th inning". www.mlb.com. April 20, 2025. Retrieved June 12, 2025.
  46. ^ Deeds, Nick (June 10, 2025). "Orioles Select Luis Vázquez". MLB Trade Rumors. Retrieved November 28, 2025.
  47. ^ McDonald, Darragh (July 1, 2025). "Jorge Mateo To Miss 8 To 12 Weeks With Hamstring Strain". MLB Trade Rumors. Retrieved November 28, 2025.
  48. ^ "Orioles Acquire Alex Jackson From Yankees". mlbtraderumors.com. Retrieved July 6, 2025.
  49. ^ Adams, Steve; McDonald, Darragh (September 2, 2025). "Orioles Designate Corbin Martin, Elvin Rodríguez For Assignment". MLB Trade Rumors. Retrieved November 22, 2025.
  50. ^ McDonald, Darragh (November 3, 2025). "Tyler O'Neill Opts In To Final Two Years On Orioles' Deal". MLB Trade Rumors. Retrieved November 22, 2025.
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