Matos was optioned to Triple-A Sacramento on Monday, Maria I. Guardado of MLB.com reports.
Matos went 0-for-4 with one RBI in his season debut Friday, but he'll return to the minors after Mike Yastrzemski was reinstated from the paternity list.
The Giants recalled Matos from Triple-A Sacramento on Friday, Maria I. Guardado of MLB.com reports.
With Mike Yastrzemski away on paternity leave, Matos will come up from the minors to fill the void in San Francisco's outfield. The 22-year-old slashed .250/.319/.342 across 253 plate appearances in the majors last season, and he will likely grab a spot on the bench until Yastrzemski returns.
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Giants' Luis Matos: Sent to Triple-A
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The Giants optioned Matos to Triple-A Sacramento on Thursday, Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle reports.
For much of spring training, Matos looked to be in good position to win an Opening Day roster spot while Austin Slater (elbow) missed time, but Slater was cleared to make a start in the outfield earlier this week at the tail end of the Giants' exhibition schedule and ended up avoiding a stint on the injured list. As a result, Matos found himself as the odd man out for a roster berth and will now head to Sacramento, where he should play on an everyday basis.
Giants manager Bob Melvin said Friday that Matos could make the Opening Day roster as Austin Slater is still having elbow issues, Brian Murphy of KNBR 680 reports.
The signing of Jorge Soler seemed to put Matos out of a starting job and roster spot. However, with Slater out indefinitely, the Giants need another outfielder and Matos is at the top of the list. The 22-year-old has been terrific this spring, putting up a 1.013 OPS with four home runs. Matos would figure to be limited to a short-side platoon initially but could play his way into a larger role.
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Giants' Luis Matos: Unlikely to make roster
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Matos is unlikely to make the Opening Day roster, Shayna Rubin of the San Francisco Chronicle reports.
If this were a true meritocracy, Matos, who is slashing .256/.326/.615 with three home runs, one steal and an 11.6 percent strikeout rate in 43 plate appearances this spring, would likely make the team as a starter over one of Michael Conforto or Mike Yastrzemski. However, Conforto is due $18 million this year and Yastrzemski is earning $7.9 million this year via arbitration. The Giants could keep Matos on the roster in a part-time role, but Austin Slater is already ticketed for fourth outfielder duty and Tyler Fitzgerald is expected to get the final bench spot due to his defensive versatility. If an outfield spot opens up due to an injury or poor performance early in the season, Matos would be the obvious candidate to get the call.
Matos may see time in center field until Austin Slater (elbow) is ready to play, Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle reports.
Previous projections had Matos as the everyday left fielder, but the addition of Jorge Soler at designated hitter will have a ripple effect with Michael Conforto needing an outfield spot on at least a platoon basis. Jung Hoo Lee still figures to get most of the time in center field, and it's possible Matos ends up functioning more like a fourth outfielder unless he wins a starting role out of camp. As long as Matos makes the team, he should be in the lineup regularly versus left-handed pitchers, though it's unclear how much manager Bob Melvin will rely on platoons to balance playing time in a deep outfield.
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Giants' Luis Matos: Favorite to start in left field
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The Giants plan for Matos to be their starting left fielder this season, Andrew Baggarly of The Athletic reports.
Baggarly writes that San Francisco is content with a "semi-stable" outfield of Matos in left, Jung Hoo Lee in center and a platoon of Mike Yastrzemski and Austin Slater in right. That would leave Michael Conforto as the primary designated hitter against right-handers, with Wilmer Flores getting most of his starts versus lefties. Blake Sabol could also be a factor in left field against tougher righties. Matos posted a .661 OPS in 76 games in 2023, but he just turned 22 and slashed .331/.401/.543 between Double-A Richmond and Triple-A Sacramento.
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Giants' Luis Matos: Not in Sunday's lineup
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Matos is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Dodgers, Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle reports.
Matos finds himself on the bench for the third time in the San Francisco's past four games while Tyler Fitzgerald receives another start in center field.
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Giants' Luis Matos: Sits again Friday
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Matos remains out of the lineup Friday versus the Dodgers.
San Francisco will ride the hot hand with Tyler Fitzgerald, who is making a second straight start in center field after hitting a double and drawing a bases-loaded walk Thursday in his major-league debut. Matos has gone 3-for-20 with one walk and three strikeouts over his last seven games.
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Giants' Luis Matos: Hits bench Thursday
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Matos isn't in the Giants' lineup Thursday against the Dodgers, Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle reports.
Matos is just 1-for-11 across hist last four games, so the Giants will give him a day off Thursday to regroup. The newly-promoted Tyler Fitzgerald will make his major-league debut in center field and bat ninth while Matos rests.
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Giants' Luis Matos: Not starting Tuesday
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Matos isn't in the Giants' lineup Tuesday against Arizona, Maria I. Guardado of MLB.com reports.
Matos is slashing .344/.400/.406 since returning from Triple-A Sacramento on Sept. 6, and he'll take a seat to begin San Francisco's series with the D-backs. Mike Yastrzemski will shift to center field while Matos rests, allowing Mitch Haniger to start in left while batting sixth.
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Giants' Luis Matos: On bench Sunday
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Matos is out of the lineup Sunday versus the Rockies.
Matos had started in every game since Sept. 6. That was when he was summoned back to the big leagues, and he has gone 11-for-32 since while registering an .806 OPS.
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Giants' Luis Matos: Reaches base four times in win
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Matos went 3-for-4 with two doubles, a walk and a run scored in Friday's 9-8 win over the Rockies.
Matos has a pair of multi-hit efforts since he was recalled from Triple-A Sacramento on Wednesday. If he can keep hitting like that, he'll have no trouble holding down a regular role in center field. The 21-year-old outfielder is batting .266 with two home runs, 11 RBI, 22 runs scored and three stolen bases over 207 plate appearances in the majors this season. Matos has displayed solid plate discipline with a 13.0 percent strikeout rate and a 7.2 percent walk rate, which bodes well for his development down the line.
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Giants' Luis Matos: Summoned to big leagues
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Matos was recalled from Triple-A Sacramento on Wednesday.
The Giants elected to keep Wade Meckler around last week when Mike Yastrzemski returned, but they've reversed course this week. Matos should receive fairly regular playing time, whether that comes in center field or in a corner spot with Yastrzemski moving back to center.
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Giants' Luis Matos: Sent back to minors
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Matos was optioned to Triple-A Sacramento on Wednesday, Alex Pavlovic of NBC Sports Bay Area reports.
Mike Yastrzemski is back from the injured list and it's Matos -- and not Wade Meckler -- losing his roster spot. The rookie outfielder has slashed .250/.311/.356 in his first 59 big-league contests.
