Sandia star pitcher Jacob Kmatz eyes major-league future
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (BVM) — Prior to his death from cancer in 2017, former Sandia head baseball coach John Gunther recommended his friend, Chris Eaton, to take over the high school program. Gunther would talk with Eaton about the big, promising freshmen class that was on the way and how it would be an ideal coaching situation for Eaton to step into.
“And then he mentioned one kid in particular,” Eaton said, “and it was Jacob [Kmatz]. He said, ‘This kid could be special.’”
Gunther was right. Four years later, Kmatz is considered to be the best high school player in New Mexico and he has a Division I baseball career ahead of him with Oregon State. That is, if he doesn’t end up signing with a Major League Baseball team first.
Heading into his senior season, Kmatz has only one full season of pitching with the Matadors under his belt, but he’s shown scouts enough to become a prospect with definite major-league potential. After pitching in only a handful of games as a freshman, Kmatz struck out 49 batters in 39 ⅓ innings as a sophomore. It wasn’t until the summer prior to his junior year, however, when Kmatz really started to draw the interest of major Division I college programs.
“Until he started throwing hard, the big schools weren’t calling,” Eaton said.
Once the 6-foot-3, 200-pound righthander started throwing above 90 mph consistently during the summer and into the fall of 2019, the bigger programs, not surprisingly, became more interested. And Oregon State, which just so happened to be one of Kmatz’s most desired schools, was among them.
“They’ve kind of been a dream school of mine ever since eighth grade year,” Kmatz said. “It was just really a perfect fit.”
Kmatz, like all high school athletes, lost the majority of his spring season last year, throwing only seven innings — and striking out 11 batters — before the Covid-19 pandemic brought everything to a halt. He did, however, get to compete in a few showcases last summer, including the prestigious Area Code Games, which can often be a prelude to bigger things to come for top pitching prospects. Recent New Mexico high school players who’ve played in the ACG include Carlsbad grad Trevor Rogers, who was a first-round draft pick of the Miami Marlins in 2017, and Manzano grad Mitchell Parker, who was selected by the Washington Nationals in the fifth round of last summer’s shortened MLB draft.
Kmatz hopes to be the next in that line. His goal of reaching the big leagues is something he’s been striving for for quite some time, but it’s become even more attainable ever since realizing his potential.
“I think I really started to understand the grind about sophomore year of high school and realizing that I could make a career of this and that’s what I ended up wanting to do.” Kmatz said. “Now I understand my potential and what I can do it’s become a goal of mine. Whether it’s pursuing professional baseball after high school or after college, that’s my end goal ultimately.”
Eaton doesn’t have any doubt that Kmatz will reach his ultimate goal.
“As long as he stays healthy, he’ll definitely play Major League Baseball,” Eaton said. “That’s all he has to do is stay healthy because he’s going to continue getting better and working hard and improving.”
Before Kmatz can turn his full attention to the possibility of being drafted this summer or begin to prepare for Pac-12 baseball with the Beavers, he has his final season ahead of him with Sandia. And after missing out on last season, he’s eager to get back on the field and compete with his teammates in April.
“I think we’re super fortunate that we’re going to be able to play this year,” Kmatz said. “I’m excited for this senior year and that’s what all of the work in the past year has been working toward.”
Kmatz is also working toward something much bigger, and he’s preparing himself for his shot at the majors, whenever it comes.
“To make it real I’ve got to keep putting in the work and have a really good senior season and prove that I’m able to compete at that level whenever the time comes,” Kmatz said. “If things don’t fall into place (with the draft this summer), I’m super happy to be going to the school that I am for college.”
