Boston Red Sox Prospects: Bryan Mata makes first start since 2019

Red Sox pitching prospect Bryan Mata has first start since 2019

On Saturday, the Boston Red Sox had one of their biggest returns in a long time. You’ll be excused if you didn’t catch it though, as the game was for Low-A Salem. A top pitching prospect has returned, as Bryan Mata made his first appearance in a game since 2019.

Things went as bad as they could for the prospect. He was one of the top arms in the minors in 2019. And he capped it off with an incredible start to end the season in Double-A. In that game, Mata tossed seven shutout innings (allowing just one hit), striking out nine batters. Both were career-highs.

However, the 2020 MiLB season was cancelled. So we didn’t get to see any of Mata that year. Then in Spring Training of 2021, he suffered an injury that forced him to get Tommy John surgery. That year was a wash as well.

Finally, two months into the 2022 season, Mata has returned. On June 4, the right-handed pitcher made a start for the Low-A Salem Red Sox. In that start, Mata tossed two innings. He allowed one unearned run on zero hits and two walks, while striking out two.

The mechanics looked good. Mata’s pitches were working. He never completely lost a batter too. In fact, both of his walks came on full-counts. So it’s not like he was going up there and throwing it all over the place. For a first appearance in over two years, this was absolutely phenomenal.

Now as I just said it has been over two years. Due to that, some fans might not remember just how good Bryan Mata is. There’s a reason I was calling him “El Idolo”. The stuff is absolutely electric. And even with all that time off, he’s still only 23 (and he just turned 23 at the start of May).

What’s next for Mata is going to be interesting. He should 100% still be in the Boston Red Sox plans for the future. When does that start though? Mata will likely make a few “rehab” starts at the lower levels. Then does he go to Double-A or is he set to make his Triple-A debut? It feels like Triple-A is the endgame here. Get him to Worcester and see how that goes. There’s a slim chance he makes it to the Majors in 2022. 2023 is the more realistic goal though, as there’s no reason to rush him through anything.

That’s not what we should be focusing on right now however. The big headline here is that El Idolo is back. And it won’t take fans long to remember just how good he can be.