Steven Matz Bio
Steven Jakob Matz, born on May 29, 1991, in Stony Brook, New York, is an American professional baseball pitcher who currently plays for the Tampa Bay Rays of Major League Baseball (MLB). A left-handed starter drafted directly out of high school by the New York Mets in 2009, Matz has built a career marked by resilience through injury and moments of postseason brilliance. Across his MLB tenure, he has also suited up for the Toronto Blue Jays, St. Louis Cardinals, and Boston Red Sox, establishing himself as a steady mid-rotation arm. His journey from Long Island sandlots to major league ballparks reflects years of rehabilitation, perseverance, and a deep connection to his hometown fan base.
Early Life and Background
Steven Jakob Matz was born on May 29, 1991, in Stony Brook, New York, the second child of Ron and Lori Matz. He grew up alongside an older brother, Jonathan, and a younger sister, Jillian, in a household steeped in New York Mets fandom that stretched back generations. His father, Ron, coached a travel baseball team and worked as a service manager at a Jeep dealership in West Islip, while his mother, Lori, served as an administrative employee at Comsewogue High School in Port Jefferson Station. The family’s devotion to the Mets helped shape Steven’s earliest baseball dreams.
Matz began playing baseball in the Three Village Little League when he was eight years old. By age ten, he had started taking pitching lessons from former MLB pitcher Neal Heaton, laying the foundation for his craft on the mound. He attended Ward Melville High School in East Setauket, New York, where he pitched and played first base for the school’s baseball team. Matz played varsity from his freshman year onward, and his fastball already averaged around 90 miles per hour during that stretch.
Scouts from the New York Mets organization first noticed Matz at a 2008 showcase tournament, and their attention only intensified during his senior season. He developed a memorable rivalry with Patchogue-Medford High School pitcher Marcus Stroman, a future Mets teammate, and the two faced off in a celebrated duel on April 16, 2009. That game drew more than fifty scouts from every MLB club and is regarded as one of the finest in Long Island high school baseball history, with Matz striking out twelve and allowing just one hit in a 1–0 victory. He wrapped up his senior year with a 6–1 record, a 0.47 ERA, and the Yastrzemski Award as Suffolk County’s top high school ballplayer.
Path to Baseball
The New York Mets selected Steven Jakob Matz in the second round, with the 72nd overall pick, of the 2009 MLB draft, making him the first player ever drafted directly out of Ward Melville High School. Although he had been committed to play college baseball at Coastal Carolina University, Matz signed with the Mets for an $895,000 bonus just minutes before the August 15 signing deadline. His professional journey, however, began with a significant setback.
While pitching in an instructional league in 2010, Matz was diagnosed with an 80 percent tear in the ulnar collateral ligament of his throwing elbow. He underwent Tommy John surgery on May 18, 2010, and spent the next two years in rehabilitation, often training alongside fellow Mets prospect Jacob deGrom. The two forged a close friendship, eventually sharing a house in Port St. Lucie, Florida during spring trainings. Matz finally made his professional debut in 2012 with the Kingsport Mets of the Rookie-level Appalachian League, posting a 2–1 record and a 1.55 ERA in 29 innings.
Matz climbed through the minors steadily from 2013 to 2015, helping the Savannah Sand Gnats capture the 2013 South Atlantic League championship and the Binghamton Mets win the 2014 Eastern League title. He was named the Mets’ Organizational Pitcher of the Year in 2014 and earned a promotion to Triple-A Las Vegas in 2015, where he posted a 2.19 ERA and led the Pacific Coast League in strikeouts per nine innings. That performance set the stage for his major league debut.
Steven Matz Career
Early Career (2015–2016)
Steven Jakob Matz made his MLB debut on June 28, 2015, against the Cincinnati Reds at Citi Field, and the moment was unforgettable. Using a bat gifted to him by Las Vegas teammate Matt Reynolds, he recorded three hits and four RBIs while pitching 7⅔ innings of two-run ball, becoming the first pitcher in MLB history to reach those numbers in a debut game. He went on to finish his rookie regular season with a 4–0 record and a 2.27 ERA, then made three postseason starts, including Game 4 of the World Series against the Kansas City Royals. Despite taking a no-decision in that Fall Classic outing, Matz had arrived as a force in the Mets’ rising pitching core.
In 2016, Matz opened the year with seven consecutive winning decisions, leading all rookie pitchers in wins, ERA, and strikeouts by the end of May. He was named National League Rookie of the Month for May and appeared on the early Rookie of the Year radar. A bone spur in his throwing elbow ultimately required offseason surgery, limiting him to 22 starts and a 9–8 record with a 3.40 ERA. His teammates deGrom, Syndergaard, and Harvey, along with Matz himself, were celebrated that year as the “Four Horsemen of Queens,” a nickname that captured the optimism surrounding the Mets’ young staff.
New York Mets Tenure (2017–2020)
Matz battled through more injuries in 2017, missing the season’s first two months with elbow inflammation before logging just 13 starts and a 6.08 ERA. He underwent season-ending surgery to decompress and reposition the ulnar nerve in his left elbow. The 2018 season marked his first full 30-start campaign, finishing 5–11 with a 3.97 ERA and 152 strikeouts over 154 innings. Along the way, he hit his first two career home runs, becoming only the third Mets pitcher to homer in consecutive appearances, alongside Tom Seaver and Ron Darling.
In 2019, Matz posted an 11–10 record, his first winning mark since 2016, while setting new career highs in strikeouts (153) and innings pitched (160⅓). His July 27 complete-game shutout against the Pittsburgh Pirates was a Maddux, thrown in under 100 pitches, and helped propel the Mets back into Wild Card contention. The 2020 pandemic-shortened season proved difficult, as he finished 0–5 with a 9.68 ERA before being shut down with left shoulder discomfort. The Mets declined to tender him a contract after the season, making him a free agent.
Toronto Blue Jays and St. Louis Cardinals Era (2021–2024)
Matz signed a four-year deal with the Toronto Blue Jays and debuted in 2021, serving as a reliable rotation piece down the stretch as Toronto chased a playoff berth. After one season north of the border, he was traded to the St. Louis Cardinals ahead of the 2022 campaign. In St. Louis, he found a stable home as a back-of-the-rotation starter, providing innings-eating outings and posting consistent results over multiple seasons. His veteran presence and ground-ball tendencies made him a valuable fit in the Cardinals’ pitching staff, where he contributed to playoff pushes in 2022 and beyond.
Boston Red Sox and Tampa Bay Rays Era (2025–Present)
Matz was traded to the Boston Red Sox during the 2025 season, where he made a brief but effective stop in the American League East. Later that same year, he was dealt to the Tampa Bay Rays, where he continues to pitch in the present. His veteran experience and ability to induce ground balls have made him a useful piece for a Rays organization known for its pitching depth.
Notable Events and Milestones
Beyond his 2015 debut heroics, Matz authored one of the most iconic moments in recent Mets history with his July 27, 2019 Maddux against the Pittsburgh Pirates, a 99-pitch shutout that came in only the eighth such performance in franchise history. He also became the first pitcher since 2001 to record three or more hits in his MLB debut, and his consecutive home runs in September 2018 placed him alongside Mets legends Tom Seaver and Ron Darling. Off the field, his charity Tru 32, which honors first responders from the FDNY, NYPD, and U.S. Military, has provided free game tickets and scholarships to families of fallen service members.
Steven Matz Career Highlights
Steven Jakob Matz has recorded meaningful wins across every major league stop of his career, with his signature victory coming in Game 4 of the 2015 NLCS against the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field. Although he did not factor into the decision, his 4⅔ innings of one-run ball helped the Mets clinch the National League pennant. His July 27, 2019 complete-game shutout of the Pittsburgh Pirates, accomplished on 99 pitches, remains one of the most efficient performances in modern Mets history. Matz’s consistent ground-ball tendencies and veteran poise have allowed him to contribute reliably as both a starter and a bulk reliever throughout his career.
Steven Matz Family
Family Background and Personal Life
Steven Jakob Matz married Taylor Cain, a Christian music singer and guitarist who performs in the band CAIN with her siblings Madison and Logan Cain, on December 9, 2017, in Nauvoo, Alabama. Mets teammates Jacob deGrom and Brandon Nimmo served in his wedding party, a reflection of the close bond forged during their shared Mets years. The couple welcomed their first child, a daughter, in August 2022, and announced they were expecting another child in October 2024. Matz and his family reside in Nashville, Tennessee, during the offseason, while he keeps an apartment in Long Island City during his Mets tenure.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 campaign has been a transitional year for Steven Jakob Matz, who began the season with the St. Louis Cardinals before being traded midseason to the Boston Red Sox. After a short stint in Boston, he was dealt once more to the Tampa Bay Rays, giving him three different clubs in a single season. Each move offered him a fresh opportunity to contribute as a veteran starter or bulk reliever in playoff races.
Although Matz did not log the heavy innings totals of his earlier Mets years, his experience and ground-ball profile made him a stabilizing presence in Rays pitching plans. His ability to handle left-handed hitters and work quickly on the mound continues to be an asset for a club that values pitch efficiency. With the Rays competing in the American League East, Matz’s role as a dependable depth starter remains valuable heading into the season’s final stretch.
Looking ahead, Matz is signed through the 2027 season under a contract that will pay him $15,000,000 in 2026, providing long-term stability. His veteran leadership and history of performing in high-pressure moments suggest he will continue to be a key figure in Tampa Bay’s pitching staff.