Matt Sauer Explained

Matt Sauer
Team:Los Angeles Dodgers
Position:Pitcher
Birth Date:21 January 1999
Birth Place:Santa Maria, California, U.S.
Bats:Right
Throws:Right
Debutleague:MLB
Debutdate:March 31
Debutyear:2024
Debutteam:Kansas City Royals
Statleague:MLB
Statyear:2024 season
Stat1label:Win–loss record
Stat1value:0–0
Stat2label:Earned run average
Stat2value:7.71
Stat3label:Strikeouts
Stat3value:9
Teams:

Matthew David Sauer (born January 21, 1999) is an American professional baseball pitcher in the Los Angeles Dodgers organization. He has previously played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Kansas City Royals.

Career

Amateur career

Sauer attended Righetti High School in Santa Maria, California.[1] [2] [3] As a senior, he went 9–1 with a 0.98 earned run average (ERA) and 142 strikeouts.[4] He committed to the University of Arizona to play college baseball.[5]

New York Yankees

The New York Yankees selected Sauer in the second round, with the 54th overall selection, of the 2017 Major League Baseball draft.[6] [7] Sauer officially signed with the Yankees on June 24.[8] and was assigned to the rookie–level Gulf Coast League Yankees, where he spent the whole 2017 season, posting an 0–2 record with a 5.40 ERA in innings pitched.[9] In 2018, he pitched with the Low–A Staten Island Yankees where he went 3–6 with a 3.90 ERA in 13 starts and 67 innings.[10]

Sauer spent 2019 with the Single–A Charleston RiverDogs, but pitched only innings due to injury.[11] He did not play a minor league game in 2020 due to the cancellation of the minor league season because of the COVID-19 pandemic.[12] Sauer split the 2021 season between the Single–A Tampa Tarpons and the High–A Hudson Valley Renegades, appearing in 23 games (21 starts) and going 5–6 with a 4.69 ERA and 127 strikeouts over innings.[13]

Sauer began the 2022 season with Hudson Valley and was promoted to the Double–A Somerset Patriots in August.[14] He struck out 17 batters in a game on August 25.[15] Sauer finished the year making 22 starts and logging a 4.54 ERA with 134 strikeouts across 109 innings pitched.[16] He spent the 2023 season with Somerset also briefly appearing for Hudson Valley, and the rookie–level Florida Complex League Yankees. In 14 games (13 starts) for Somerset, Sauer registered a 6–5 record and 3.41 ERA with 93 strikeouts across 74 innings pitched.[17] After the 2023 season, Sauer pitched for the Mesa Solar Sox of the Arizona Fall League.[18]

Kansas City Royals

On December 6, 2023, the Kansas City Royals selected Sauer from the Yankees in the Rule 5 draft.[19] On March 23, 2024, manager Matt Quatraro announced that Sauer had made Kansas City's Opening Day roster[20] as a relief pitcher who can pitch multiple innings.[21] In 14 appearances for the Royals, he struggled to a 7.71 ERA with 9 strikeouts across innings pitched. On May 20, Sauer was designated for assignment following the promotion of Sam Long.[22]

New York Yankees (second stint)

On May 26, 2024, the Royals returned Sauer to the New York Yankees organization. He was subsequently assigned to the Triple–A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders.[23] In 27 appearances split between Scranton and the Double–A Somerset Patriots, he accumulated a 3–2 record and 6.12 ERA with 30 strikeouts across innings pitched. Sauer elected free agency following the season on November 4.[24]

Los Angeles Dodgers

On December 16, 2024, Sauer signed a minor league contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers, that contained an invitation to major league spring training.[25]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Sauer earns PAC 8 League baseball MVP | Baseball . santamariatimes.com . June 8, 2017 . September 13, 2017.
  2. Web site: MLB scout evaluates top pitching prospect Matt Sauer | The Tribune . Sanluisobispo.com . May 3, 2017 . September 13, 2017.
  3. Web site: Dave . Alley . Righetti pitcher awaits to hear named called during today's MLB Draft . KEYT . June 12, 2017 . September 13, 2017.
  4. Web site: Punzal . Barry . Righetti Pitcher Matt Sauer Drafted by the New York Yankees | Sports . Noozhawk.com . June 13, 2017 . September 13, 2017.
  5. Web site: Matthew Sauer – Player Profile. Perfect Game USA. March 10, 2018.
  6. Web site: Hoch . Bryan . Yankees draft high school pitcher Matt Sauer | MLB.com . M.mlb.com . January 20, 2016 . September 13, 2017.
  7. Web site: MLB Draft 2017: Who's Matt Sauer? What you must know about Yankees' 2nd-round pick | Scouting report . June 13, 2017 . NJ.com . September 13, 2017.
  8. Web site: Macklin . Oliver . Yankees sign Clarke Schmidt, Matt Sauer | MLB.com . M.mlb.com . September 13, 2017.
  9. Web site: Matt Sauer Stats, Highlights, Bio – MiLB.com Stats – The Official Site of Minor League Baseball. November 17, 2017.
  10. Web site: Matt Sauer Stats, Highlights, Bio – MiLB.com Stats – The Official Site of Minor League Baseball. MiLB.com. November 8, 2018.
  11. Web site: Home. Pinstriped Prospects.
  12. Web site: 2020 Minor League Baseball season canceled. MLB.com.
  13. Web site: New York Yankees 2021 Farm System Review. October 28, 2021.
  14. Web site: Matt Sauer, Yankees 2017 second-round draft pick, gets long-awaited promotion to Somerset . Mycentraljersey.com . August 27, 2022.
  15. Web site: Yankees prospect notches Minors-high 17 strikeouts in gem. MLB.com.
  16. Web site: Matt Sauer - Stats - Pitching. March 23, 2024. fangraphs.com. en.
  17. Web site: New Player Spotlight: Matt Sauer. March 23, 2024. farmtofountains.com. February 28, 2024 . en.
  18. Web site: AFL allowing '22 draftee to show Yankees what he's all about . .
  19. Web site: 2023 Rule 5 Draft results: Pick by pick. Jonathan. Mayo. MLB.com. December 6, 2023. December 6, 2023.
  20. Web site: Loftin, Blanco, Sauer claim Royals' final roster spots. March 23, 2024. mlb.com. en.
  21. https://www.kansascity.com/sports/mlb/kansas-city-royals/article287125535.html
  22. Web site: Royals Designate Matt Sauer For Assignment. May 20, 2024. mlbtraderumors.com. May 20, 2024 . en.
  23. Web site: Yankees. May 26, 2024. x.com. en.
  24. Web site: Minor League Free Agents 2024. Baseball America. November 6, 2024. November 6, 2024. Matt. Eddy.
  25. Web site: Dodgers To Sign Matt Sauer To Minor League Deal. Darragh. McDonald. MLB Trade Rumors. December 16, 2024. December 16, 2024.