Cole Mathis makes Arizona Fall League debut for Mets Saguaros
New York Mets prospect Cole Mathis made his Surprise Saguaros debut on Opening Day during the Arizona Fall League, following a regular season that saw him play for five different clubs across the Cubs and Mets organizations. mlb.com reported that Mathis went 1-for-4 with an RBI single and a walk in a 9-3 win over Scottsdale at Scottsdale Stadium, showcasing a new batting stance.
Trade and Recovery Set the Stage in Arizona
No prospect expects to be traded in late June, far before the usual pressures of the Trade Deadline. The Mets acquired Mathis from the Chicago Cubs on June 25 in exchange for pitcher David Peterson, while Mathis was still on the injured list with an achy left wrist. The trade forced Mathis and his wife to pack their bags and relocate to the Mets’ Spring Training complex in Port St. Lucie, Florida, for rehab. Mathis initially starred as a two-way player at the College of Charleston before becoming a second-round pick of the Cubs in 2024. After undergoing Tommy John surgery, pitching was shelved, prompting a permanent move to the batter’s box as a designated hitter and corner infielder. Now ranked as New York’s No. 13 prospect, Mathis is using his second tour in the Arizona Fall League to make up for missed live at-bats during the regular season and prepare for 2027.
Adjusted Stance Yields Hard Contact
In his opening game against Scottsdale, Mathis collected his first knock off a fastball from San Francisco Giants right-hander Alexander Fuentes. Beyond his RBI single, he drove a 101.5 mph lineout to center field in the first inning and a 99.7 mph screamer to left field in the third inning.
Heavy Turnover Shapes Minor League Clubhouses
Mathis appeared in just 52 regular-season games, but those appearances spanned five different clubhouses across the Cubs and Mets organizations. That high volume of movement required a rapid adjustment to new teammates and pitching staffs. Upon arriving at High-A Brooklyn, Mathis joined a clubhouse that had just absorbed multiple newcomers through mid-summer trades. The starting lineup during his first two days in Brooklyn included fellow trade acquisitions Sammy Stafura, Aidan Smith, and John Spikerman. In the Arizona Fall League, Mathis is paired alongside Bruin Agbayani, the No. 28 Mets prospect and son of former major leaguer Benny Agbayani, with the duo starting side-by-side on the right side of the Surprise infield.
The Arizona Fall League schedule runs through November, offering Mathis a final stretch of developmental games to solidify his standing within the Mets organization before heading into the 2027 campaign.