Full name MATTHEW REESE CARSON...Wife, Lisa...Daughters Mackenzie (5), Addison (3) & Olivia (1)...1999 graduate of Yucaipa HS (CA)...Attended Brigham Young University...Voted first-team All-Mountain West Conference and All-Mountain West Tournament team following junior season...Named first-team All-MWC in 2001...Ranked among nation's leaders in home runs and RBI throughout the 2001 season...Was one of 10 players originally selected for tryout with the USA National Team for summer of 2001...Was named first-team Freshman All-American by Collegiate Baseball, third-team Freshman All-America by Baseball America, Mountain West Conference Freshman of the Year, second-team All-MWC, and All-Tournament MWC.
2013
Carson, 32, spent the entire 2013 Minor League campaign at Triple-A Columbus where he has hit .252 (110-436) with 16 doubles, 2 triples, 14 home runs and 49 RBI while stealing 14 bases in 18 attempts (78%) before being promoted to Cleveland on August 28 when Ryan Raburn went on the 15-day DL...The Temecula, CA native, who was signed in November to a Minor League contract with spring training non-roster invite, hit .270 (31-115, .773OPS) vs. left-handed pitching for the Clippers...At Columbus he appeared in 68 games in right field, 30 games in center and 38 games in left field at Triple-A and hit .329 (24-73, 12RBI, 22G) from July 31 until his August 28 call-up... With Cleveland he appeared in 4 games in left field, 14 games in right field and scored 4 times as a pinch-runner...Made his only start in RF on Sept 15 at CWS and went 3-for-3 w/a RS, HR & 2RBI (HBP), equaling his single-game career-high in hits (2nd time) and hit is first HR in almost three years (9/26/2010 vsTEX)...Had game-ending, 11th inning walk-off single on Sept 19 vs. Houston (off Rhiner Cruz) that propelled the Indians to a key, 2-1 victory...Re-signed to a Minor League deal following Dec. 2 non-tender.
2012
Was a non-roster invite to Twins spring training camp and opened the season in Triple-A Rochester where he went
4-for-5 on Opening Day, April 5, at Syracuse, becoming first Red Wings player with at least four hits in opener since
Eddy Garabito in 2001...Pitched 1.0 inning of relief, allowing two runs on one hit with two walks, August 6 vs. Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. Had contract selected by the Twins on August 17...At the time of his recall he was batting .277 (112-for-405) with 23
doubles, 14 home runs, 49 RBI, and 60 runs scored in 110 games for Red Wings...On the year in Rochester he led
team in hits (119), extra-base hits (44), doubles (28), total bases (193), runs scored (64) and games played (115)...Was
tied for 11th in the Int'l League in doubles (28) and 15th in OPS (.804). Matt made his Twins debut, going 1-for-4 with an RBI-single on August 17 at Seattle...Set a career-high with three hits
in next game August 18 at Seattle...Hit safely in all five games with Twins before being optioned to Triple-A Rochester
August 23...Played in five games for Red Wings before being recalled August 31 and spent the final month of the season
in Minneapolis where he was 7-for-45 over the last month of the season (21 games).
2011
Started the season with Triple-A Sacramento in the Oakland organization...Batted .441 (15-for-34) with six doubles, two home runs and eight RBIs in a seven-game span, April 18-29...Went 4-for-5 with one double, two home runs, six RBIs and three runs scored, May 30 at Reno...Recorded a 12-game hitting streak, July 6-21, batting .412 (21-for-51) with seven doubles, one triples, three home runs and 10 rbi during the stretch...Was outrighted off the A's roster and traded to Tampa Bay for cash considerations, August 1...he reported to Durham where he spent the rest of the season...Placed on the 7-day disabled list with left hamstring strain, August 8...reinstated, August 16...Played for Estrellas de Oriente in the Dominican Winter League, batting .115 (3-for-26) in eight games.
2010
Batted .177 with four home runs and nine RBIs in 36 games over four stints with Oakland...hit .167 (10-for-60) with all four of his home runs and seven of his nine RBIs against left-handed pitching...was 4-for-19 (.211) against right-handers...has hit all five of his career home runs off southpaws...was 2-for-18 (.111) with runners in scoring position...hit .242 on the road, compared to .130 in Oakland...batted .231 over the first six innings and .074 in the seventh inning or later...was 2 for 41 (.049) with two strikes
and 1 for 21 (.048) when leading off an inning...all four of his home runs were solo shots...went 1-for-8 (.125) with a walk, two sacrifice flies and three RBI as a pinch-hitter...is 2-for-9 (.222) with four RBIs in
the pinch in his career...started 18 games in right field, two in center field and one in left field.
2009
Spent the entire regular season with Triple-A Sacramento before making his Major League debut with Oakland in September...hit .286 with a home run and five RBI in 10 games with the A's...was 3 for 6 (.500) with runners in scoring position...appeared in eight games in right field and one in left field...made all six of his starts in right...was selected by Oakland Sept. 18 and made his Major League debut that night against Cleveland with a start in right field...went 0 for 3...singled off the Indians' Tomo Ohka in the fifth inning Sept. 19 for his first hit...had a pinch hit RBI single in the eighth inning Sept. 20
against Cleveland for his first RBI...hit his first big league home run Sept. 21 against Texas, a two-run shot off Eddie Guardado in the ninth inning...went 5 for 12 (.417) with a home run and four RBI over his first six games and 1 for 9 (.111) with one RBI over his final four...played for Aguilas in the Dominican Winter League and hit .229 with a home run and four RBI in 25 games.
2008
Spent his seventh professional season with Double-A Trenton and Triple-A Scranton-Wilkes Barre in the New York Yankees organization...combined to hit .285 with 17 doubles, 10 triples, 15 home
runs and 64 RBI in 111 games...had career highs in batting and triples...began the year at Trenton, but was promoted to Scranton-WB May 3 and finished second on the Yankees Triple-A affiliate in triples (6) and hit by pitches (8), while ranking third in batting (.289)...with both clubs, he combined to bat .316 against left-handed pitching and .271 against right-handers...his average slipped to .270 with runners in scoring position, including .212 with RISP and two outs...was 1 for 10 (.100) with the bases loaded...hit .322 when leading off an inning...appeared in 50 games in right field, 42 in center field and eight in left field...had 13 assists in 96 total games in the outfield...committed just one error in 223 chances
for a .996 fielding percentage...hit in every spot in the order and saw his most action with 28 games in the three spot and 28 games batting fifth...hit .277 with five home runs and 26 RBI in 27 games with Trenton...hit .333 at home and .243 on the road...batted .333 during the day and .239 at night...had a season high five RBI April 6 at Binghamton...put together a season best 14-game hitting streak from April 12 to 27 and hit .381 (24 for 63) with five doubles, three triples, four home runs and 20 RBI during the streak...had at least one RBI in each of the final 12 games of the streak...capped the hitting streak April 27 against New Britain when he went 4 for 5 with a triple, a home run and five RBI...it was his first of three four-hit games in 2008...was promoted to Scranton-WB May 3 and hit .289 with 10 home runs and 38 RBI in 84 games...went 4 for 6 and scored a season high four runs in his Triple-A debut May 3 against Durham...was on the disabled list from May 25 to June 1 with a strained left calf...had his lone two home run game of the season June 14 at Norwich and drove in four runs...finished June
with a .351 batting average in 20 games...batted .154 (4 for 26) with one RBI in seven postseason
games for Scranton-Wilkes Barre as the Yankees won the International League Championship...played
for Aguilas in the Dominican Winter League following the season and hit .273 with six home runs and 19 RBIs in 20 games.
2007
Batted .248 with 16 home runs and 76 RBI in 129 games with Double-A Trenton...led the Thunder in games, at bats (471), runs (72), hits (117), home runs, RBI and strikeouts (109)...tied for third in the Yankees farm system in home runs and ranked fifth in RBI...batted .296 against left-handed
pitching and .234 against right-handers...hit .319 in April but batted .253 or less in each of the remaining months...was 5 for 14 (.357) with a home run and 16 RBI with the bases loaded...the grand slam came July 1 against Harrisburg...appeared in 68 games in right field and 57 in center field and had 16 assists in 124 total games in the outfield...led Eastern League outfielders with six double plays...was 3 for 6 with a walk-off single in the 12th inning April 9 against Harrisburg...went 3 for 4 with two doubles May
12 against New Britain and then went 4 for 4 with two doubles and a home run the next day against the Rock Cats...was the starting left fielder for the North Squad in the EL All-Star Game July 11 but did not bat as the game was called in the third inning due to heavy fog...hit .344 with a home run and five RBI in eight postseason games to lead Trenton to the EL Championship and was named MVP of the playoffs.
2006
Split his season between Single-A Tampa and Double-A Trenton for the second consecutive
season and batted a combined .248 with 10 home runs and 30 RBI in 69 games...hit .269 against righthanded pitching and .182 against left-handers...batted .310 with runners in scoring position with Tampa but had a .095 average with RISP while playing for Trenton...appeared in 28 games in right field and 25 in left field and did not commit an error...began the year at Tampa and went 4 for 4 with four runs scored, a triple, three home runs and five RBI April 24 at Sarasota...was batting .227 with seven home
runs and 18 RBI in 38 games before going on the disabled list May 25 with a concussion...was reinstated from the DL July 12 and went 4 for 5 with a home run and three RBI in his first game back that day at Ft. Meyers...was promoted to Trenton July 14...had his second multi-homer game of the season Sept. 3 against Reading when he was 3 for 4 with a double and two home runs.
2005
Played for Single-A Tampa and Double-A Trenton and hit a combined .238 with nine home runs and 44 RBI in 112 games...batted .192 with runners in scoring position, including .087 with RISP and two outs...appeared in 45 games in right field, 41 in center field and 10 in left field...had 11 assists in 95 games overall in the outfield...began the year at Tampa and had a 13-game hitting streak from April 15 to 29 (16 for 54, .296)...was batting .243 with eight home runs and 33 RBI in 72 games when he was promoted to Trenton June 28...hit .192 with no walks and 25 strikeouts in 28 games with the Thunder and was sent back to Tampa Aug. 3...was place on the disabled list Aug. 3 with a right shoulder inflammation...was reinstated Aug. 25 and went 13 for 41 (.317) over his final 12 games.
2004
Hit a combined .271 with 15 home runs and 75 RBI in 132 games with the Yankees two Single-A affiliates at Tampa and Battle Creek...had career highs in games, at bats (510), runs (75), hits (138), doubles (30), strikeouts (111) and stolen bases (23)...appeared in 128 games in right field, three in center field and one at first base...hit .171 in 37 games with Tampa before he was transferred to Battle Creek May 26...went on to hit .304 with Battle Creek, which tied for ninth best in the Midwest League...led the team with 21 stolen bases...had 15 assists in 95 games in the outfield...hit .368 over his first 32 games and .273 over his final 63 contests...had two home runs and five RBI June 8 at Peoria...had a grand slam Aug. 20 against Kane County.
2003
Spent the entire season at Single-A Battle Creek and batted .259 with 11 home runs and 52 RBI
in 119 games...had a roller coaster season as he hit .189 in April, .324 in May, .145 in June, .304 in July and .267 in August...had five home runs in 93 at bats against left-handed pitchers and six home runs in 339 at bats against right-handers...appeared in 76 games in right field and 41 in left field...homered in three consecutive games, July 1-3 at Beloit.
2002
Made his professional debut with Single-A Staten Island, the New York-Penn League Champions...batted .203 with a home run and 11 RBI in 48 games...hit .167 over his first 18 games and .226 over his final 30 contests...all 42 of his defensive appearances came in right field...connected for his first professional home run Aug. 29 at Brooklyn.
