Zebby Matthews gets first MLB win just 3 months after pitching for Cedar Rapids Kernels

CEDAR RAPIDS — The coaches office in the Cedar Rapids Kernels home clubhouse postgame Tuesday night was abuzz. Everyone in it had their eyes glued to a small television set.

Pitcher Zebby Matthews was being interviewed after his major-league debut for the Minnesota Twins. It was a solid five-inning start at home against the Kansas City Royals in which he gave up five hits and a couple of runs, striking out five and getting the victory.

At one point in the interview, Matthews credited all of his coaches for his meteoric rise through the minor leagues this season. Kernels co-pitching coach Jonas Lovin and A.J. Angulo turned and gave each other fist bumps after hearing that.

The duo certainly played a part in what Matthews has done. That’d be starting the season with the high-A Kernels and just three months later finding himself in the bigs.

That just does not happen.

“It’s amazing to see how much work he put in,” Angulo said. “He did whatever it was we wanted him to do. To get to that (major league) level, that’s all on him. He put himself into that position to get called up.”

Matthews, 24, was a rather innocuous prospect, an eighth-round draft pick of the Twins in 2022 out of Western Carolina University, not exactly known as a big-time major college baseball power. The right-hander pitched the back half of the 2023 minor-league season with the Kernels after earning a promotion from low-Class A Fort Myers.

He didn’t exactly shove, pitching to a 4.59 earned run average in 14 appearances. But he was a different guy in 2024, making four starts for the Kernels in which he went 3-0 with a 1.59 ERA in four starts.

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That got him bumped up to Double-A Wichita on May 9, where he continued to dominate. The Twins pushed him to Triple-A Saint Paul on July 19.

He had four starts, two decent and two so-so, with the Saints and got his call to the majors. One thing that has been consistent with the kid has been impeccable control.

Matthews issued just seven walks in 97 minor-league innings this season, including zero with the Kernels in his 22 2/3 innings with them. Of course, he didn’t walk anyone Tuesday night against K.C.

“Not only to go from Cedar Rapids to the big leagues, but consider last year in Cedar Rapids he wasn’t very good,” said Lovin, who was one of his pitching coaches in 2023. “He has worked his ass off, got a lot better this offseason. He is throwing harder, has better offspeed stuff.

“I think the best part is everyone is rooting for him. He’s a great dude. Whether it’s his teammates, the front office, his coaches, he has left an impression on everybody. Everybody would tell you that nobody is working as hard as that dude.”

Nate Baez of the Kernels caught half of Matthews’ starts with Cedar Rapids this season. He was reminded how crazy his former teammate’s ascension has been.

“It’s not crazy, because he’s just that good,” Baez said. “He doesn’t throw balls, he attacks guys, has really nasty stuff. And, like he’s a really great baseball player, but he’s an even better guy. I fully expected it. He’s one of the best guys in the locker room.

“Awesome. Very happy for him.”

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