| Matt Sauer | |
|---|---|
.png) Sauer in 2018 | |
| Kansas City Royals – No. 65 | |
| Pitcher | |
| Born: January 21, 1999 Santa Maria, California, U.S. | |
Bats: Right Throws: Right |
Matthew David Sauer (born January 21, 1999) is an American professional baseball pitcher for the Kansas City Royals of Major League Baseball (MLB).
Sauer attended Righetti High School in Santa Maria, California.[1][2][3] As a senior, he went 9–1 with a 0.98 earned run average (ERA) and 142 strikeouts.[4] He committed to the University of Arizona to play college baseball.[5]
Sauer was drafted by the New York Yankees in the second round of the 2017 Major League Baseball draft.[6][7]
Sauer officially signed with the Yankees on June 24.[8] and was assigned to the Gulf Coast League Yankees, where he spent the whole 2017 season, posting an 0–2 record with a 5.40 ERA in 11+2⁄3 innings pitched.[9] In 2018, he pitched with the Staten Island Yankees where he went 3–6 with a 3.90 ERA in 13 starts and 67 innings.[10]
Sauer spent 2019 with the Charleston RiverDogs, but pitched only 8+2⁄3 innings due to injury.[11] He did not play a minor league game in 2020 since the season was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[12] Sauer split the 2021 season between the Tampa Tarpons and the Hudson Valley Renegades, appearing in 23 games (21 starts) and going 5–6 with a 4.69 ERA and 127 strikeouts over 111+1⁄3 innings.[13] Sauer began the 2022 season with Hudson Valley and was promoted to the Somerset Patriots in August.[14] He struck out 17 batters in a game on August 25.[15]
On December 6, 2023, the Royals selected Sauer from the Yankees in the Rule 5 draft.[16]