Bryan Mata
Venezuelan baseball player (born 1999)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Bryan Eduardo Mata (born May 3, 1999) is a Venezuelan professional baseball pitcher for the Yomiuri Giants of Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB). Listed at 6 feet 3 inches (1.91 m) and 160 pounds (73 kg), he bats and throws right-handed.
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| Bryan Mata | |
|---|---|
Mata pitching in the All-Star Futures Game in 2018 | |
| Yomiuri Giants – No. 42 | |
| Pitcher | |
| Born: May 3, 1999 Maracay, Venezuela | |
Bats: Right Throws: Right |
Career
Boston Red Sox
Mata signed with the Boston Red Sox as an international free agent in January 2016 for a $25,000 signing bonus.[1] He made his professional debut that summer for the Dominican Summer League Red Sox and spent all the whole season there, compiling a 4–4 record, a 2.80 ERA, and a 1.20 WHIP in 14 games started. In 2017, he played for the Single–A Greenville Drive where he posted a 5–6 record with a 3.74 ERA in 17 starts.[2]
MLB.com ranked Mata as Boston's fourth best prospect going into the 2018 season.[3] Playing for the High–A Salem Red Sox, Mata was the sole Boston prospect selected to the 2018 All-Star Futures Game,[4] where he pitched an inning of scoreless relief, allowing one hit while walking one and striking out one.[5] In 17 starts for Salem, Mata was 6–3 with a 3.50 ERA and a 1.61 WHIP.[2]
Mata started the 2019 season with Salem,[2] and was promoted to the Double-A Portland Sea Dogs on July 1.[6] Overall with both teams during the season, Mata compiled a 7–7 record with 3.43 ERA and 111 strikeouts in 105 innings.[2] After the 2020 minor league season was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Mata was invited to participate in the Red Sox' fall instructional league.[7] Following the 2020 season, Mata was ranked by Baseball America as the Red Sox' number four prospect.[8]
On November 20, 2020, Mata was added to Boston's 40-man roster in order to be protected from the Rule 5 draft.[9] During 2021 spring training, he sustained a slight UCL tear.[10] On April 13, 2021, Mata underwent Tommy John surgery, ending his 2021 season.[11] Mata began the 2022 season on the injured list in Triple-A with the Worcester Red Sox.[12] He resumed pitching in May in extended spring training,[13] and played in a minor-league game for the first time in over two years in early June.[14] With four different teams during 2022, Mata pitched in 19 games (18 starts) while compiling a 2.49 ERA in 83 innings with a 7–3 record.[15]
Mata spent 2023 in Triple-A with Worcester, compiling an 0–3 record in nine games (seven starts) with a 6.33 ERA in 27 innings pitched in which he gave up 30 walks and had 28 strikeouts.[15] Following the 2023 regular season, he played in the Arizona Fall League, where he gave up eight earned runs in nine innings.[16][17] Mata spent much of the first half of the 2024 season on the injured list due to hamstring and shoulder issues.[18] He was transferred to the team's 60-day injured list on July 26.[19] Mata was designated for assignment by the Red Sox on November 19.[20] On November 22, the Red Sox non–tendered Mata, making him a free agent.[21] He re–signed with the organization on a minor-league contract the same day.[22]
Mata began the 2025 season with Worcester. In mid-June, upon the Red Sox trading Rafael Devers, Mata became the longest-tenured player in the Red Sox organization.[23] He made 42 total appearances for Worcester, compiling a 3-3 record and 5.08 ERA with 93 strikeouts and two saves across 67+1⁄3 innings pitched. Mata elected free agency following the season on November 6, 2025.[24]
Yomiuri Giants
On December 9, 2025, Mata signed with the Yomiuri Giants of Nippon Professional Baseball.[25]