The San Francisco Giants outrighted infielder Mark Mathias (shoulder) to Triple-A Sacramento on Wednesday. Mathias spent the 2023 season with the Giants and Pittsburgh Pirates, slashing .226/.333/.258 with no home runs, two doubles, six RBI, three stolen bases and six runs scored in 27 games. He played in only five games in San Francisco before suffering a strained shoulder that ended his season early in the middle of August. Since making his big-league debut in the COVID-shortened 2020 campaign, the 29-year-old infielder has hit .246 (44-for-179) with six home runs, 30 RBI and seven stolen bases in 73 games played for the Giants, Milwaukee Brewers, Texas Rangers and Pirates.
The Pittsburgh Pirates acquired infielder/outfielder Mark Mathias from the Texas Rangers on Wednesday in exchange for a player to be named later. To make room on the 40-man roster, the Pirates moved right-hander Max Kranick to the 60-day injured list. Mathias, 28, played 30 games in the big leagues with the Milwaukee Brewers and Rangers last year, hitting .247/.319/.506 with an .825 OPS, six home runs, 20 RBI and 13 runs scored in 91 plate appearances. The utility man has only played in 46 major-league games in two seasons and doesn't have a huge track record of offensive success in the minor leagues, but he will have more of an opportunity to play at the big-league level for the rebuilding Bucs.
Texas Rangers infielder Mark Mathias was one of the surprise stars of Tuesday night's 8-7 victory over the Oakland Athletics, going 3-for-5 at the plate with two home runs, a double, four RBI, and three runs scored. Mathias has just 93 major-league at-bats to his name, but he's flashed some upside with five homers and three steals. As long as Mathias receives the semi-regular playing time he's garnered since mid-August, he'll have some value in deep leagues, though fantasy managers shouldn't expect this type of power going forward.
Milwaukee Brewers infielder/outfielder Mark Mathias (shoulder), who suffered a season-ending injury to his throwing shoulder during spring training last year, has not been limited at the team's minicamp. Mathias initially injured his right shoulder in the second week of March in 2020, but he underwent surgery on May 5 and began a tough recovery. The 27-year-old was cleared from rehab last Thanksgiving and is one of the most seasoned players in minor league camp this year. After two surgeries to his throwing arm, the utility player has had no setbacks in his throwing. Mathias hit .269/.355/.442 with 12 home runs, 59 RBI and 13 stolen bases in 115 games for Triple-A Columbus in 2019 before making his MLB debut in 2020, when he hit .278 (10-for-36) with no homers and four RBI in 36 plate appearances. He'll have a chance to earn a utility role for Milwaukee if he can stay healthy in 2022.
