Matt Whatley #94

Matthew Whatley...he and his wife, the former Brittney Pauls, married on 11/23/19 and reside in Broken Arrow, Okla.…the couple met while attending Oral Roberts U…was a three-year starter at ORU, a three-time First Team All-Summit League selection, and one of three finalists for the 2017 Johnny Bench Award, awarded annually to the nation’s best catcher…hit .302 (64-212) with 11 HR and 49 RBI in 59 G as a junior for the Golden Eagles…paced ORU with a .446 on base percentage and drew a team-high 50 walks, 11th-most in the nation…played for Yarmouth-Dennis in the Cape Cod League in the summer of 2016…was a three-sport standout at Claremore (Okla.) High School, lettering in wrestling, football and baseball…signed by Rangers scout Bobby Crook on 6/20/17.

2023

Made a team-high 64 starts at catcher for Round Rock (AAA), batting .203/.290/.322/.612 (48-236) with six HR, 10 2B, and 25 RBI over 70 G…threw out 26 of 68 (38.2%) attempted base stealers from behind the plate, his highest-ever caught stealing pct. as a pro (prev. 37.1% in 2019)…with Whatley serving as the club’s primary catcher, the Express pitching staff finished the campaign ranked second in the Pacific Coast League in ERA (4.72), strikeouts (1377) and WHIP (1.48), and had the third-fewest walks (675) and wild pitches (62) on circuit.

2022

Earned a late season promotion from Frisco to Round Rock, combining to appear in 61 G while slashing .228/.287/.328/.617…boasted a 10-game hitting streak spanning across 6/12-7/1 in Frisco, going 13-for-39 (.333 BA) with five RBI and earning a promotion two weeks later…threw out just 15 of 81 (19.0%) baserunners, a career-low conversion rate…finished 7-20 (.350) across the last nine G with Round Rock…posted better numbers against RHP (.250 BA) than LHP (.156 BA).

2021

Spent the entire season as the starting catcher for Frisco (AA), making 70 starts behind the plate…worked with a pitching staff that posted the Double-A Central’s lowest ERA (3.98), fewest walks (423), and boasted the league’s Pitcher of the Year in RHP Cole Winn…threw out a league and organization-high 29 of 103 (28.2%) runners attempting to steal…totaled a .997 fielding percentage (2 E/793 TC)…slashed .203/.316/.282/.598 at the plate, the lowest SLG pct. of his career…was a non-roster invitee to Rangers’ Major League spring training and spent time at the Alternate Training Site before joining Frisco for the start of the regular season in May.

2020

Did not see game action, was not part of Rangers’ 60-man player pool, and did not participate in fall instructional league…spent time in Arlington as an extra bullpen catcher... underwent an appendectomy on 3/2/20 before Spring Training was shut down.

2019

Ranked among South Atlantic League leaders in BB (T6th, 62) and SB (T8th, 29) after entering season with 32 BB and 4 SB in his entire pro career…honored as Rangers Minor League Defender of the Year…made 84 starts at catcher and tied for the league lead with 33 caught stealing (33 of 89, 37%)… matched career high with 4 hits on 5/25 vs. Greensboro…named SAL Player of the Week for 6/17-23…went 9-for-32 (.281) in 10 G with Surprise in the Arizona Fall League.

2018

Combined to bat .179 (29-162) in 52 G with Down East and Hickory… registered a .997 fielding pct. (1 E/376 TC) and cut down 12 of 43 (28%) attempted base stealers.

2017

Named the 15thbest prospect in the Northwest League by Baseball America… posted career-best slash line of .295/.376/.452/.827 with 6 HR and 28 RBI over 44 G for AZL Rangers and Spokane…was promoted to Spokane on 7/5…ranked among the Spokane club leaders in HR (T3rd, 6) and RBI (T4th, 25)…1st pro 4-hit game on 8/30 at Salem-Keizer, including a 3-R HR and careerbest 5 RBI.