Nick Maton Bio
Nicholas Maton, known professionally as Nick Maton, is an American professional baseball utility player who is currently a free agent. Born on February 18, 1997, in Chatham, Illinois, Maton has built his career as a versatile infielder and outfielder across Major League Baseball. He has previously played in the majors for the Philadelphia Phillies, Detroit Tigers, Baltimore Orioles, and Chicago White Sox, and he is the younger brother of Texas Rangers pitcher Phil Maton.
Maton attended Glenwood High School in Chatham, Illinois, where he starred as a four-year starter for the Titans baseball team. After being drafted in the 40th round of the 2015 MLB draft by the Oakland Athletics, he chose to forgo professional baseball in favor of a college career. He played college baseball at Eastern Illinois University and Lincoln Land Community College before being selected by the Philadelphia Phillies in the seventh round of the 2017 MLB draft.
Early Life and Background
Nicholas Maton was born on February 18, 1997, in Chatham, Illinois, a small city in central Illinois. He grew up in the same central Illinois community where he developed his love for baseball. Maton attended Glenwood High School, where he became a standout on the Titans baseball team as a four-year starter.
As a senior, Maton earned first team All-State honors and was named the Central State Eight Conference Player of the Year. He batted .442 with 28 RBIs, 45 runs scored, and 20 stolen bases while also going 8-1 as a pitcher with a 0.95 ERA and 102 strikeouts in 59 innings. Following his senior season, the Oakland Athletics selected Maton in the 40th round of the 2015 MLB draft, but he declined to sign and instead chose to play college baseball.
Maton began his college career at Eastern Illinois University, where he started at shortstop as a true freshman for the Panthers. He batted .299 with 12 doubles, four triples, and three home runs, earning a spot on the Ohio Valley Conference All-Freshman team. He spent his summer playing collegiate baseball for the Fayetteville SwampDogs of the Coastal Plain League before transferring to Lincoln Land Community College in Springfield, Illinois.
Path to Baseball
At Lincoln Land Community College, Maton had a breakout season with the Loggers, batting .408 with eight home runs, 46 RBIs, 60 runs scored, and 33 stolen bases. He also posted a 4-1 record in 13 pitching appearances and committed to continue his career at the University of Missouri. However, his strong play drew the attention of MLB scouts, and the Philadelphia Phillies selected him in the seventh round of the 2017 MLB draft.
Maton signed with the Phillies and was assigned to the short-season Williamsport Crosscutters to begin his professional career. He batted .252 with two home runs, 13 RBIs, 34 runs scored, and 10 stolen bases in 58 games. His rapid development through the minor leagues paved the way for a debut in the major leagues in 2021.
Nick Maton Career
Early Career (2017-2019)
Following the 2017 draft, Maton began his professional career with the Williamsport Crosscutters, where he showed promising speed and contact skills. In 2018, he advanced to the Single-A Lakewood BlueClaws and batted .256 with eight home runs and 51 RBIs in 114 games, earning South Atlantic League All-Star honors.
Maton opened the 2019 season with the High-A Clearwater Threshers, posting a .276 batting average with five home runs, 14 doubles, and 45 RBIs. He was named a Florida State League All-Star before earning a promotion to the Double-A Reading Fightin Phils, where he hit .210 with two home runs in 21 games. He finished the year by playing for the Scottsdale Scorpions in the Arizona Fall League and was named one of the Phillies’ top 10 prospects for 2020 by Baseball America.
Philadelphia Phillies (2021-2022)
After being added to the Phillies’ 40-man roster in November 2020, Maton was promoted to the majors on April 19, 2021. He made his MLB debut that night as the starting shortstop against the San Francisco Giants and collected his first major league hit, a single off starter Kevin Gausman. He opened his career with a six-game hitting streak, including multiple hits in each of the final four games, and hit his first two home runs on May 16, 2021, against the Toronto Blue Jays.
In 2022, Maton recorded his first walk-off hit on August 23 against the Cincinnati Reds off pitcher Alexis Díaz. He batted .250/.341/.514 in 72 at-bats with five home runs and 17 RBIs while playing 10 games each in left field, right field, and second base, and two games each at shortstop, third base, and pitcher. Maton made one postseason appearance during the Phillies’ 2022 playoff run in Game 2 of the World Series as a pinch-hitter.
Detroit Tigers (2023)
On January 7, 2023, Maton was traded to the Detroit Tigers along with Matt Vierling and Donny Sands in exchange for Gregory Soto and Kody Clemens. He made an immediate impact, hitting his first career walk-off home run on April 14 against the San Francisco Giants in the 11th inning. However, he struggled on both offense and defense for much of the season and was optioned to the Triple-A Toledo Mud Hens on June 25.
In 93 games with the Tigers, Maton batted .173/.288/.305 with eight home runs and 32 RBIs. He was designated for assignment by the Tigers on February 5, 2024, ending his tenure in Detroit.
Baltimore Orioles (2024)
On February 7, 2024, Maton was traded to the Baltimore Orioles in exchange for cash considerations. He was optioned to the Triple-A Norfolk Tides to begin the season but was designated for assignment on March 26 following the signing of Tony Kemp. After clearing waivers, he was sent outright to Norfolk, where he hit .294/.387/.483 with seven home runs and 28 RBIs in 41 games.
Maton was added to the Orioles’ active roster on June 19 after an injury to Jordan Westburg. After one appearance as a defensive replacement, he was designated for assignment again on June 24. He was recalled on September 2 and went 0-for-5 with two strikeouts in four games before being designated for assignment on September 15. He elected free agency on October 4, 2024.
Chicago White Sox (2025)
On December 3, 2024, Maton signed a minor league contract with the Chicago White Sox. He made the team’s Opening Day roster in 2025 and appeared in 23 games, batting .173/.295/.327 with two home runs and four RBIs. After being designated for assignment on April 26 and clearing waivers, he was outrighted to the Triple-A Charlotte Knights before being selected again on May 7. He was designated for assignment a final time on May 10 and released by the White Sox organization on June 19, 2025, returning to free agency.
Notable Events and Milestones
Among Maton’s most memorable moments was his first career walk-off home run on April 14, 2023, against the San Francisco Giants while playing for the Detroit Tigers. He also recorded a walk-off hit on August 23, 2022, against the Cincinnati Reds during his time with the Philadelphia Phillies. His appearance in Game 2 of the 2022 World Series stands as the pinnacle of his postseason experience.
Nick Maton Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Nicholas Maton comes from a family with strong ties to professional baseball. He is the younger brother of Phil Maton, a relief pitcher who has played for several MLB teams, including the Texas Rangers.
Personal Life
Nick Maton was raised in Chatham, Illinois, where he developed into a top high school and college prospect. His brother Phil Maton has also made his mark in the major leagues, making the Maton family one of the few in recent MLB history to feature two siblings at the game’s highest level.
2025 Season Performance
Nicholas Maton entered 2025 with the Chicago White Sox after signing a minor league deal the previous December. He made the Opening Day roster and served as a utility player for the club. In 23 appearances, he batted .173/.295/.327 with two home runs and four RBIs, providing depth at multiple positions.
Despite a brief recall to the active roster in early May, Maton was designated for assignment multiple times during the early portion of the season. He was released by the White Sox organization on June 19, 2025, and once again became a free agent looking for his next opportunity in Major League Baseball.