Matt Foster

Matt Foster
Free agent
Pitcher
Born: (1995-01-27) January 27, 1995 (age 29)
Valley, Alabama, U.S.
Bats: Right
Throws: Right
MLB debut
August 1, 2020, for the Chicago White Sox
MLB statistics
(through 2024 season)
Win–loss record9–5
Earned run average4.30
Strikeouts117
Stats at Baseball Reference Edit this at Wikidata
Teams

Matthew James Foster (born January 27, 1995) is an American professional baseball pitcher who is a free agent. He made his Major League Baseball (MLB) debut in 2020 for the Chicago White Sox.

Amateur career

Foster attended Valley High School in Valley, Alabama.[1] He was drafted by the Arizona Diamondbacks in the 29th round of the 2013 MLB draft, but did not sign.[2] He attended Gulf Coast State College for two years (2014-2015).[3] He then transferred to the University of Alabama, and played for the Crimson Tide for the 2016 season.[4] Foster was drafted by the Chicago White Sox in the 20th round of the 2016 MLB draft.[1]

Professional career

Foster split the 2016 season between the Arizona League White Sox and the Great Falls Voyagers, going a combined 0–0 with a 0.61 ERA over 29+2⁄3 innings.[1] He split the 2017 season between the Kannapolis Intimidators and the Winston-Salem Dash, going a combined 0–2 with a 1.30 ERA over 27+2⁄3 innings.[1][5] He played for the Glendale Desert Dogs of the Arizona Fall League following the 2017 season.[6][1] He split the 2018 season between Winston-Salem and the Birmingham Barons, going a combined 2–5 with a 3.30 ERA over 60 innings.[1][7][8] He split the 2019 season between Birmingham and the Charlotte Knights, going a combined 4–1 with a 3.20 ERA over 64+2⁄3 innings.[9]

On November 20, 2019, the White Sox added Foster to their 40-man roster to protect him from the Rule 5 draft.[10] On July 29, 2020, Foster was called up to the major leagues.[11] He made his MLB debut on August 1, pitching a scoreless inning of relief and earning a win in the process.[12] With the 2020 Chicago White Sox, Foster appeared in 23 games, compiling a 6–1 record with 2.20 ERA and 31 strikeouts in 28+2⁄3 innings pitched.[13]

Foster struggled in 2021 as he was in and out of Triple-A in that season. Foster appeared in just 37 games in the Major Leagues compiling a 2–1 record with a 6.00 ERA in 39 innings while striking out 40 batters. In 2022, Foster made 48 appearances for Chicago, working to a 1–2 record and 4.40 ERA with 42 strikeouts in 45.0 innings pitched.

On March 20, 2023, Foster was shut down after it was revealed he had a forearm strain in his throwing arm.[14] On April 21, it was announced that Foster had undergone Tommy John surgery and would miss the entire 2023 season.[15]

On August 16, 2024, Foster was activated from the injured list to make his return from surgery.[16] On November 4, he was sent outright to Triple-A he rejected the assignment and elected free agency.[17]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f Janey Murray (May 30, 2018). "Dash's Foster dominating at all levels". Winston-Salem Dash. Retrieved November 21, 2019.
  2. ^ Jason Galloway (June 8, 2013). "PREP BASEBALL: Valley High's Matt Foster picked in 29th round of MLB Draft by Arizona Diamondbacks". Opelika-Auburn News. Retrieved November 21, 2019.
  3. ^ "Matt Foster Baseball 2015". Gulf Coast State College. Retrieved November 21, 2019.
  4. ^ Mark Inabinett (March 7, 2019). "Watch Da'Ron Payne toss first pitch to Matt Foster in all-Alabama battery". AL.com. Retrieved November 21, 2019.
  5. ^ Rob Young (August 31, 2017). "Unheralded Matt Foster aiming to be another 2016 draft gem". ChicagoNow. Retrieved November 21, 2019.
  6. ^ Dan Hayes (August 29, 2017). "Why White Sox are sending Rule 5 pick Dylan Covey to the Arizona Fall League". NBC Sports Chicago. Retrieved November 21, 2019.
  7. ^ Ben Jones (July 11, 2018). "Former Alabama reliever Matt Foster moving up in minors". TideSports.com. Retrieved November 21, 2019.
  8. ^ Hannah Echols (August 1, 2018). "Foster Realizing Hometown Dream". Retrieved November 21, 2019.
  9. ^ Vinnie Duber (November 20, 2019). "White Sox move seven prospects to 40-man roster, protecting them from Rule 5 draft". NBC Sports Chicago. Retrieved November 21, 2019.
  10. ^ Daryl Van Schouwen (November 20, 2019). "Right-handers Zack Burdi, Dane Dunning among 7 added to White Sox 40-man roster". Chicago Sun-Times. Retrieved November 20, 2019.
  11. ^ "White Sox's Matt Foster: Called up by White Sox". CBSSports.com. July 29, 2020. Retrieved August 2, 2020.
  12. ^ Mark Inabinett (August 1, 2020). "Matt Foster gets pitching win in MLB debut". AL.com. Retrieved August 2, 2020.
  13. ^ "Matt Foster Stats, Fantasy & News". MLB.com.
  14. ^ "White Sox's Matt Foster: Battling forearm strain". cbssports.com. Retrieved March 22, 2023.
  15. ^ "White Sox's Matt Foster: Undergoes Tommy John surgery". cbssports.com. Retrieved April 21, 2023.
  16. ^ "White Sox Place Dominic Leone On 60-Day Injured List With Right UCL Sprain". mlbtraderumors.com. Retrieved August 16, 2024.
  17. ^ https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2024/11/white-sox-claim-penn-murfee.html