The Astros reassigned Matthews to minor-league camp Thursday, Matt Kawahara of the Houston Chronicle reports.
Manager Joe Espada said of Matthews after the transaction that "second base looks like his best" position, adding that "there's a path" to a major-league role for Matthews eventually. Assuming Jose Altuve moves to left field as expected, the keystone could represent Matthews' best path to a major-league debut relatively soon if he gets off to a nice start at Triple-A Sugar Land. Slated to turn 23 on Sunday, Matthews slashed .265/.384/.481 with 15 homers and 32 stolen bases across four levels in the minors in 2024.
Matthews was promoted to Triple-A Sugar Land on Monday, Matt Kawahara of the Houston Chronicle reports.
The 2023 first-round pick continues to fly through the minor leagues, as he'll suit up for the Space Cowboys after logging only 105 games at the lower levels of Houston's farm system. Matthews has hit nine home runs and stolen 16 bags in 42 games at Double-A Corpus Christi so far this season, earning him a chance to compete at the next level.
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Astros' Brice Matthews: Back in action
Rotowire
Matthews (back) was activated from the 7-day injured list Tuesday.
Matthews was sent to the 7-day IL in mid-August after experiencing back muscle spasms, but he's been cleared to return for Double-A Corpus Christi following a brief absence. In three games since being activated, he's 3-for-12 at the plate with two solo home runs, one walk and two runs scored.
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Astros' Brice Matthews: Dealing with back injury
Rotowire
The Astros announced that Matthews was placed on Double-A Corpus Christi's 7-day injured list Friday due to back muscle spasms, Matt Kawahara of the Houston Chronicle reports.
For the second time this season, Matthews has been shut down with a back issue, as he had previously missed most of May due to what the Astros had described as low back discomfort. The infielder returned to action for High-A Asheville on June 1 before moving up to Corpus Christi two and a half weeks later. Since getting promoted to Double-A, Matthews had slashed .225/.344/.441 with six home runs and 10 stolen bases across 131 plate appearances.
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Astros' Brice Matthews: Placed on minor-league IL
Rotowire
Matthews (undisclosed) was placed on the Double-A Corpus Christi's 7-day injured list Sunday, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.
Matthews last saw the field Aug. 4, and it's unclear how long he's expected to be sidelined. The 22-year-old has produced a .234 average with six home runs, 13 RBI, 19 runs scored and 10 stolen bases over 111 at-bats in 30 games with Corpus Christi this season.
Astros' Brice Matthews: Returns with two-homer day
Rotowire
Matthews (back) returned from High-A Asheville's 7-day injured list Saturday and went 2-for-3 with two home runs and one walk.
Matthews, the No. 28 overall pick in last year's draft, missed about a month with lower-back discomfort. As a college draftee in his age-22 season at High-A, the expectation should be that Matthews puts up huge numbers in the extremely hitter-friendly park in Asheville. Indeed, he has a 1.476 OPS at home and a .602 OPS on the road, albeit in a tiny sample.
Matthews was placed on the 7-day injured list at High-A Asheville with low-back discomfort Tuesday, Matt Kawahara of the Houston Chronicle reports.
The 22-year-old hasn't seen game action since late April due to the injury and will be out for at least another week. Matthews was drafted 28th overall in the 2023 First-Year Player Draft and has a .650 OPS this season in his first taste of the High-A level.
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