Matthew Brian Chico...pitched collegiately at the University of Southern California and Palomar (CA) Community College...fanned nine batters per
9.0 innings pitched in 15 games (13 starts) for USC as a freshman... member of the 2000 and 2001 U.S. Junior National teams that won silver at
the Pan-Am Games (2001, Cuba) and the IBAF tournament (2000, Canada).... graduated from Fallbrook (CA) High...was a 2001 High School All-
America, earning All-State, All-County, All-City and All-Avocado...threw back-to-back no-hitters during prep career...originally drafted in the second
round of the 2001 First-Year Player Draft by Boston, but did not sign...was pitching in a semi-pro league in San Diego upon being selected by Arizona
in the third round of the 2003 First-Year Player Draft...signed by Arizona scout Mark Baca.
2011
Combined to go 3-4 with one save and a 5.87 ERA in 27 games (two starts) for the Nationals' Triple-A Syracuse, D ... ouble-A Harrisburg
and Rookie-level GCL Nationals on a rehab assignment
... Overall, struck out 38 and walked just 14 in 46.0 combined innings
... Opened the season with Syracuse before being transferred to Harrisburg on May 5...placed on the disabled list on June 9 and rehabbed
with the GCL Nationals from June 21-July 20
... Reinstated from the DL and released by the Nationals organization on July 21.
2010
Accepted 26 minor-league starts (7-9, 3.62 ERA) and one big league starting assignment in first complete season after
having Tommy John surgery in summer of 2008...was recalled from Double-A Harrisburg on May 8 for spot start vs. FLA...
worked 5.0 solid innings, allowing 2 runs on 6 hits...did not walk a batter, struck out 3 and did not garner a decision in
a game won by Washington, 5-4...in the minor leagues, walked just 2.6 per 9.0 innings...3.62 ERA ranked 4th among
qualified Nationals minor leaguers...registered 10 quality starts on the season, including 7 in final 10 assignments.
2009
Completed return to mound from Tommy John surgery, going 2-4 with 3.96 ERA in 15 combined starts for Double-A
Harrisburg (12 starts) and Single-A Hagerstown...did not pitch until June...tossed just 61.1 innings as workload was
closely monitored...was touched for just 2 home runs in 50.1 Eastern League innings.
2008
After strong rookie season, struggled on the mound and with injuries in sophomore campaign...went 0-6 with a 6.19
ERA in 11 games (8 starts) before season was cut short...did not pitch after May 21...was placed on the 15-Day DL
on May 23 (left elbow)...had reconstructive left-elbow surgery performed by Dr. James Andrews on July 3...plight was
not helped by facing an eventual double-digit winner (Brett Myers, Adam Wainwright, Tim Hudson, John Maine, Carlos
Zambrano and Jamie Moyer) in 7 of 8 starting assignments...when starting, Washington was blanked twice.
Game-By-Game Highlights: On April 11 vs. ATL, in self-described best big league start, allowed just one run on 5 hits
in career-best 8.0 innings, but took the loss in a 3-0 setback...walked just one and struck out 3, but was out dueled by
Tim Hudson, who won his 5th straight decision at the Nationals' expense since joining the Braves.
In minor leagues: Pitched in one game-allowing 4 runs in 4.0 innings-for Columbus of the Triple-A International
League, May 31 at Buffalo, but did not pitch thereafter.
2007
Entered '07 never having pitched above Double-A, exceeded expectations in true rookie season, going 7-9 with a
4.63 ERA in 31 starts with Washington...led the Nationals pitchers with 31 starts, 167.0 innings and 94 strikeouts...7
wins also led Nationals starters...31 starts ranked 2nd among MLB rookie leaders in starts behind only BOS' Daisuke
Matsuzaka (32)...paced NL rookie pitchers in starts (first) and innings (first)...also ranked among NL rookie pitchers
in winning percentage (3rd, .438), strikeouts (4th), wins (tied for 4th), ERA (9th, 4.63) and batting average against
(9th, .281)...allowed 3 earned runs or less in 20 of 31 starts (65%)...struggled after the All-Star break, going 1-2 with a
6.50 ERA in 7 starts, before being optioned to Triple-A Columbus after taking the loss, August 17 vs. NYM...returned
to the Nationals on September 1 after 2 IL starts...went 2-2 with a 3.38 ERA in 6 Sept. starts...walked only 9 batters
in those 6 September outings or 2.3 per 9.0 innings pitched...had issued an average of 4.4 walks per 9 innings (65
BB/132.1 IP) in his 25 starts before being sent to Columbus...became just the 3rd rookie in franchise annals to reach
the 30-start plateau, joining RHP Javier Vazquez (32 in 1998) and RHP Carl Morton (37 in 1970)...when toeing the
rubber, the Nationals went 16-15...nabbed first MLB win in a frigid 5-1 win, April 16 vs. ATL (first pitch temperature
was 47 degrees, but wind gusts were at/near 40 mph)...in 5.0 innings of work, allowed one run on 4 hits and 5 walks...
did not record a K...in the last 70 years, only 2 other starting pitchers picked up their first MLB win despite walking at
least 5 and fanning none: HOU's Gil Rondon (1976) and SEA's Jim Converse (1993)...went without a win in first 12
road starts until notching victories in each of final 2 road assignments, Sept. 24 at NYM and Sept. 29 at PHI...2 starts
were cut short due to rain delays: May 12 vs. FLA (one run allowed in 4.1 innings) and May 27 at STL (4.0 scoreless
innings)...4 times exited starts with the lead, but was relegated to a no-decision as the 'pen squandered the lead...was
saddled with team-high 10 unearned runs...worked team season-high 13.0 straight scoreless innings, June 29-July
4...posted a .244 batting average against the first time through the lineup, .302 thereafter.
2006
Acquired by the Nationals from ARI along with RHP Garrett Mock on August 7 in exchange for RHP Livan Hernandez...with trade, was assigned to Harrisburg of the Double-A Eastern League, and went 2-0 with a 3.27 ERA
in 4 starts (2 quality starts)...started the year with ARI's Lancaster club of the Single-A California League...went 3-4
with a 3.75 ERA in 10 starts before a May 27 promotion to Double-A Tennessee...was 7-2 with a 2.22 ERA and a
.211 batting average against in 13 starts with Tennessee upon being dealt to Washington...allowed just 62 hits in 81.0
innings of work overall with Tennessee (6.9 hits per 9.0 innings)...with Lancaster, notched the organization's Minor
League Pitcher of the Month honor for April (2-1 with a 1.53 ERA in 5 starts)...with Tennessee, went 6-0 with a 1.87 ERA (9
ER/43.1 IP) in his last 7 starts beginning June 28...went 4-0 with a 2.03 ERA in 5 July starts and was named ARI's Minor
League Pitcher of the Month...pitching for Tennessee, June 1 vs. Carolina, clubbed his first pro homer, a 2-run blast.
2005
Began the season at Tennessee as one of the youngest players in the Double-A Southern League...after 10 starts,
was reassigned to Single-A Lancaster May 29...went 6-0 with a 3.41 ERA in final 14 starts with Lancaster...was named
ARI's Minor League Pitcher of the Month for July (3-0, 1.82 ERA , 6 starts)...also notched California League Pitcher of
the Week honors for periods ending July 24 (1-0, 1.38 ERA, 2 starts) and August 28 (1-0, 1.35 ERA, 2 starts).
2004
Received first taste of the Double-A level with El Paso of the Texas League after a June 21 promotion from Single-A
South Bend of the Midwest League...notched ARI's Pitcher of the Month honors for April (4-0, 1.17 ERA in 4 starts).
