Norwin grad Matijevic assigned to Double-A
JJ Matijevic will start his third season in the minor leagues in Double-A.
The former Norwin and Arizona star was assigned to the Corpus Christi Hooks of the Texas League, an affiliate of the Houston Astros.
The 6-foot, 206-pounder who bats left-handed and throws right-handed, finished last season with the Buies Creek Astros of the Class A-Advanced Carolina League. He began the season with the Quad Cities River Bandits of the Class A Midwest League before a promotion.
Combined, he batted .277 with 22 home runs and 62 RBIs.
The 23-year-old still hasn’t quite found a regular position. A former corner infielder and designated hitter, he has toggled between infielder and outfielder, but the Hooks list him as the latter.
Matijevic initially was drafted out of high school by the Boston Red Sox, who took him as a shortstop in the 22nd round of the 2014 draft. He chose not to sign and went to Arizona where his stock rose.
Houston took him in the second round (pick No. 75) in the 2017 draft. He signed and started out with the Tri-City ValleyCats in Class A short season ball in the New York-Penn League.
AstrosFuture.com lists Matijevic as the organization’s 18th-best prospect.
Bill Beckner Jr. is a TribLive reporter covering local sports in Westmoreland County. He can be reached at bbeckner@triblive.com.
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