Spokane Indians opening-day starter Michael Matuella can’t wait to prove he’s bounced back

Michael Matuella, the Spokane Indians’ opening-day starter, has overcome his fair share of obstacles.

Matuella emerged as a candidate for the No. 1 overall pick in the 2015 Major League Baseball Draft after posting a 2.78 earned-run average during his sophomore season at Duke.

That was until Matuella underwent Tommy John surgery on a torn ulnar collateral ligament (UCL) in his right throwing elbow in April 2015, two months before the draft.

The Great Falls, Virginia, native had also been shut down in summer and fall of 2014 with spondylolysis, a defect in the connection between vertebrae.

Matuella was originally diagnosed with the condition as a freshman in high school but was asymptomatic for five years. Once he started to experience problems, it added another red flag to Matuella’s once-promising draft prospects.

The right-hander slipped to the third round last season and was selected by the Texas Rangers with the 78th overall pick. Watching the draft unfold was a frustrating process for Matuella, who will open Spokane’s Northwest League season Friday night at Avista Stadium against Vancouver.

“I think the fact I slipped to where I got drafted speaks for itself in what teams thought of the back-elbow combo,” Matuella said, “which was especially frustrating for me because I knew that wasn’t going to be a problem for me.”

Being overlooked is nothing new for Matuella. In high school, he had only two Division I offers and no interest from MLB franchises. But with a wiry 6-foot-6 frame and a fastball that approaches 97 mph, it’s easy to see why Matuella was an enticing prospect.

Despite his recent injuries, Matuella is highly regarded within the Rangers’ organization. Matuella is Texas’ seventh-ranked prospect, according to MLB.com.

“I think it’s going to be good here, but I think it might be hard to tell what that guy might do in the future,” Indians pitching coach Joey Seaver said. “It’s really exciting to think about.”

But while Matuella is an exciting, highly touted prospect, Seaver urges people to be patient with him.

“When you have a guy coming off Tommy John surgery, it takes a while to get your feel back, your mechanics totally where you want them,” Seaver said. “It takes time.”

But after not pitching for 14 months, staying patient is tough for Matuella. After rehabilitation, in which Matuella added 25 pounds and regained most of his velocity, Seaver expects his pitch count to be limited to 60 while the Rangers ease him into becoming a regular starter.

Coming to Spokane, where he will make his start at the professional level, Matuella is eager to show how far his rehab has come.

“I’ve felt the best I’ve ever felt,” Matuella said. “I couldn’t be more confident going into the season.”