Zebby Matthews Bio
Daniel Zebulon Matthews, known professionally as Zebby Matthews, is an American professional baseball pitcher who plays for the Minnesota Twins of Major League Baseball (MLB). A right-handed starter, Matthews moved through the Twins’ minor league system after being selected in the 2022 MLB Draft and reached the majors in 2024. He is regarded as one of the organization’s developing young arms and continues to compete for a permanent role in the big-league rotation.
Early Life and Background
Daniel Zebulon Matthews was born on May 22, 2000. He grew up in western North Carolina and attended Smoky Mountain High School in Sylva, where he played for the Mustangs baseball program. Matthews developed as a pitcher in the Smoky Mountain system, drawing attention from college recruiters for his poise on the mound and his ability to generate swings and misses with a deep repertoire.
After finishing his prep career, Matthews continued his development at Western Carolina University, where he played college baseball for the Catamounts. His time at Western Carolina allowed him to refine his mechanics against stronger collegiate competition and positioned him for entry into the professional ranks following his junior season.
Path to Baseball
Matthews entered professional baseball when the Minnesota Twins selected him in the eighth round of the 2022 Major League Baseball Draft, with the 234th overall pick. He signed with the Twins and began his pro career that summer, splitting his first season between the rookie-level Florida Complex League Twins and the Single-A Fort Myers Mighty Mussels.
In 2023, Matthews returned to Fort Myers to open the year and was promoted midseason to the High-A Cedar Rapids Kernels. Across 22 games and 20 starts between the two affiliates, he posted a 7-3 record and a 3.84 ERA, striking out 112 batters in 105 and one-third innings. The performance marked him as a notable breakout arm within the Twins’ lower minors.
Zebby Matthews Career
Early Career (2022-2023)
Matthews’ first professional season in 2022 served as an introduction to the Twins’ developmental pipeline. Working out of the Florida Complex League and Fort Myers rotation, he gained his first exposure to a full professional schedule and adjusted to the rhythms of a long minor league season.
The 2023 season represented his first sustained success. After starting the year again at Fort Myers, his promotion to Cedar Rapids gave him a chance to face more advanced hitters in the Midwest League. His combination of strikeout ability and inning-eating durability quickly became his calling card at the High-A level.
Minor League Breakthrough (2024)
Matthews opened the 2024 campaign with Cedar Rapids and continued his upward trajectory. He was promoted during the season to the Double-A Wichita Wind Surge and later to the Triple-A St. Paul Saints, completing a full climb through three levels of the Twins’ system in a single year.
On August 13, 2024, the Twins selected Matthews to the 40-man roster and promoted him to the major leagues for the first time. The call-up signaled the organization’s confidence in his readiness for big-league hitters and rewarded his rapid development across three affiliates.
Minnesota Twins Era (2024-Present)
Matthews made his MLB debut in 2024 and went on to make nine starts for the Twins during his rookie campaign. The transition to the majors proved challenging, as he finished his first big-league stint with a 1-4 record and a 6.69 ERA, recording 43 strikeouts across 37 and two-thirds innings pitched.
Following the conclusion of his rookie year, Matthews was optioned to Triple-A St. Paul to begin the 2025 season. The decision gave the Twins flexibility with their pitching staff while allowing Matthews to continue building experience at the highest level of the minors.
Notable Events and Milestones
Matthews’ most significant career milestone came on August 13, 2024, when he was added to Minnesota’s 40-man roster and called up to the majors for the first time. His debut marked the culmination of a draft-to-debut journey that spanned just over two seasons, and his nine starts during the 2024 rookie campaign established his first body of work in Major League Baseball.
Zebby Matthews Career Wins
Matthews’ career wins have primarily been accumulated in the minor leagues, where he has built a record of consistent starting pitching across multiple levels of the Twins’ system.
Minor League Highlights
During the 2023 season, Matthews posted 7 wins across 22 appearances and 20 starts for Fort Myers and Cedar Rapids. His first taste of professional success came at the Single-A level, while his most recent full-season win total was anchored by a strong second half at High-A Cedar Rapids. He has not yet recorded a Major League victory.
Other Wins and Performances
Matthews opened his career in the Florida Complex League and Fort Myers systems in 2022 before his breakthrough 2023 campaign. His climb continued in 2024 with promotions through Double-A Wichita and Triple-A St. Paul, reinforcing his profile as a durable starter capable of handling a heavy workload.
Zebby Matthews Family
Family Background and Baseball Lineage
Matthews grew up in the Sylva, North Carolina area and developed his love for baseball while attending Smoky Mountain High School. His path through Western Carolina University and into the professional ranks reflects the traditional route taken by many American pitchers from the Southeast.
Personal Life
Matthews continues his professional baseball career while maintaining ties to his North Carolina roots. He is known professionally by the nickname Zebby, a shortened form of his middle name, Zebulon.
2025 Season Performance
Matthews entered the 2025 season at the Triple-A level with the St. Paul Saints, having been optioned by the Twins at the end of spring preparations. The assignment positioned him as a depth option for Minnesota’s big-league rotation and bullpen.
Throughout the 2025 season, Matthews has continued his development at Triple-A, working on consistency and refining his approach against upper-level hitters. His role within the organization remains that of a starting pitcher capable of being called up if the major league club requires additional rotation help.
Should the Twins require reinforcement during the 2025 campaign, Matthews stands as a leading candidate to return to the majors. His blend of strikeout ability and experience across three minor league levels gives Minnesota a reliable depth piece for the rotation picture.