Phil Maton

Maton was drafted by the San Diego Padres in the 20th round of the 2015 Major League Baseball draft.[2] He made his professional debut that year with the Short Season-A Tri-City Dust Devils.[3] In 23 relief appearances, Maton pitched to a 4–2 win–loss record, 1.38 earned run average (ERA), and 58 strikeouts in 322⁄3 innings pitched.[4] In 2016, Maton pitched for the Class-A Fort Wayne TinCaps, Advanced-A Lake Elsinore Storm, and Triple-A El Paso Chihuahuas.[5] He made a total of 38 appearances for the three teams, and posted a 5–3 record, 1.74 ERA, and 78 strikeouts in 512⁄3 innings.[4] After the season, he played in the Arizona Fall League for the Peoria Javelinas.[6] Maton began the 2017 season with Triple-A El Paso.[4]

Maton with the San Diego Padres in 2019

On June 11, 2017, Maton was called up by the Padres after Jake Esch was designated for assignment.[7] Maton remained with the big league club for the rest of the season, pitching in a middle relief role. He finished the season with a 4.19 ERA and 46 strikeouts in 43 innings over 46 games.

Maton started 2018 with Triple-A El Paso, but was quickly recalled to the majors when Wil Myers went to the disabled list on April 4.[8] On May 13, Maton went to the DL with a strained lat and returned to the team on June 21 after a rehab assignment.[9] He was quickly optioned to Triple-A on June 24, but recalled again on July 9 after posting a sub-1.00 WHIP in six appearances in El Paso.[10] Maton stayed with the Padres for the remainder of the year, again pitching in middle relief. For the season, he had a 4.37 ERA and 55 strikeouts in 471⁄3 innings. Maton's walk rate rose in 2018, and he was less effective after returning from his injury, posting a 0.56 ERA in his 16 innings before going on the DL and a 6.32 ERA with the Padres afterwards.[11]

Maton with the Cleveland Indians in 2019

On July 12, 2019, Maton was traded to the Cleveland Indians in exchange for international bonus pool allotments.[12] In Maton's subsequent 9 games with Cleveland, he posted a 2.92 ERA in 121⁄3 innings.

With the Indians, Maton appeared in 23 games, compiling a 3–3 record with 4.57 ERA and 32 strikeouts in 21.2 innings pitched.[13]

On July 30, 2021, Maton was traded to the Houston Astros along with minor league catcher Yainer Díaz in exchange for outfielder Myles Straw.[14] With Houston in 2021, Maton was 4–0 with a 4.97 ERA. In 27 games, he pitched 25+1⁄3 innings.[15]

Maton avoided arbitration with the Astros on March 22, 2022, agreeing to a $1.55 million contract for the season.[16]

On June 15, 2022, Maton threw an immaculate inning in the seventh inning versus the Texas Rangers at Globe Life Field, striking out Nathaniel Lowe, Ezequiel Durán, and Brad Miller. In the second inning, teammate Luis Garcia had also struck out the same three batters for an immaculate inning, making this the first occasion in major league history of two immaculate innings pitched in a single game, on the same date.[17] Maton's immaculate inning was the ninth in team history.[18] In the 2022 season final on October 5, Maton faced his younger brother, Nick, in the major leagues for the first time, yielding a single.[19] After the game, Maton punched a locker, which resulted in a fractured fifth metacarpal area on his right hand. He underwent surgery a day later and was ruled out for the playoffs.[20]

On January 13, 2023, Maton signed a one-year, $2.55 million contract with the Astros, avoiding salary arbitration.[21] The Astros placed Maton on the 15-day injured list (IL) on August 12, 2023, due to a right elbow contusion. He sustained impact of a line drive comebacker hit by Eduardo Escobar during the ninth inning of the game prior versus the Los Angeles Angels.[22]