Phil Maton Bio
Phillip Louis Maton III is an American professional baseball player and pitcher for the Chicago Cubs of Major League Baseball. Maton rose through the college and minor league ranks after being selected in the 20th round of the 2015 MLB draft and made his major league debut with the San Diego Padres in 2017.
Early Life and Background
Phillip Louis Maton III was born on March 25, 1993, in Chatham, Illinois. He attended Glenwood High School in Chatham and later played college baseball for the Louisiana Tech Bulldogs at Louisiana Tech University.
Maton developed as a collegiate pitcher at Louisiana Tech before entering professional baseball. His performance in college led to his selection by the San Diego Padres in the 2015 Major League Baseball draft.
Path to Baseball
After the 2015 draft, Maton made his professional debut with the Low-A Tri-City Dust Devils, beginning a steady climb through the Padres’ farm system. He reached higher minor-league levels in 2016 and started the 2017 season at Triple-A El Paso.
Maton also gained experience in offseason competition, appearing in the Arizona Fall League for the Peoria Javelinas after the 2016 campaign. His progression through multiple minor-league levels established him as a viable major league bullpen option.
Phil Maton Career
Early Career (2015–2017)
The San Diego Padres selected Maton in the 20th round, 597th overall, of the 2015 draft. In his first professional season with the Tri-City Dust Devils, he made 23 relief appearances and posted a 4–2 record with a 1.38 earned run average and 58 strikeouts in 32 2/3 innings.
In 2016 Maton pitched across three levels—Fort Wayne, Lake Elsinore and El Paso—making 38 appearances with a combined 5–3 record, a 1.74 ERA and 78 strikeouts in 51 2/3 innings. He began 2017 with Triple-A El Paso and earned a call to the major leagues that June.
San Diego Padres Breakthrough (2017–2019)
Maton was called up by the San Diego Padres on June 11, 2017, and remained with the big league club for the rest of the season in a middle-relief role. He finished his 2017 rookie campaign with a 4.19 ERA and 46 strikeouts in 43 innings over 46 games, establishing himself as a frequent bullpen option.
He continued with the Padres into 2018 and 2019, moving between the majors and Triple-A as the team managed bullpen depth. Injuries affected parts of his time with San Diego, including a stint on the injured list in 2018 with a lat strain, but he returned to contribute at the major-league level.
Cleveland Indians (2019–2021)
On July 12, 2019, Maton was traded to the Cleveland Indians in exchange for international bonus pool allotments. In his first nine appearances for Cleveland he posted a 2.92 ERA in 12 1/3 innings, and he appeared in 23 games with the club overall, compiling a 3–3 record with a 4.57 ERA and 32 strikeouts in 21.2 innings.
Maton remained with the Indians organization through the 2021 season before being moved in a midseason trade that would send him to Houston. His time in Cleveland added high-leverage and middle relief experience against American League competition.
Houston Astros (2021–2023)
On July 30, 2021, the Cleveland Indians traded Maton to the Houston Astros along with minor league catcher Yainer Díaz in exchange for outfielder Myles Straw. With Houston in 2021 Maton was 4–0 with a 4.97 ERA in 27 games, totaling 25 1/3 innings.
Maton produced notable moments with the Astros in 2022. On June 15, 2022, he recorded an immaculate inning, striking out Nathaniel Lowe, Ezequiel Durán and Brad Miller in one inning, coming in the same game in which teammate Luis García also recorded an immaculate inning. Late in the 2022 regular season Maton faced his younger brother in the majors for the first time and subsequently suffered a fractured right hand after punching a locker, requiring surgery and ruling him out for the postseason, though the Astros captured the 2022 World Series title.
Maton avoided arbitration with Houston on January 13, 2023, when he agreed to a $2.55 million contract for the season. He later landed on the injured list in August 2023 with a right elbow contusion after absorbing a line-drive impact from a comebacker.
Tampa Bay Rays (2024)
Maton signed a one-year contract with the Tampa Bay Rays on February 14, 2024, that included a club option for the 2025 season. He made 40 relief appearances for Tampa Bay, compiling a 4.58 ERA with 30 strikeouts and two saves across 35 1/3 innings.
New York Mets (2024)
On July 9, 2024, the Rays traded Maton to the New York Mets for a player to be named later or cash considerations. In 31 appearances for the Mets that season he posted a 2.51 ERA with 30 strikeouts across 28 2/3 innings. The Mets declined their 2025 option on Maton after the season, making him a free agent.
St. Louis Cardinals and Texas Rangers (2025)
Maton signed a one-year, $2 million contract with the St. Louis Cardinals on March 13, 2025. He made 40 relief appearances for St. Louis, logging a 1–3 record and 2.35 ERA with 48 strikeouts and two saves across 38 1/3 innings.
On July 31, 2025, the Cardinals traded Maton to the Texas Rangers in exchange for Skylar Hales, Mason Molina and international bonus pool money. In 23 appearances for the Rangers he compiled a 3–2 record and 3.52 ERA with 33 strikeouts and three saves over 23 innings.
Chicago Cubs Era (2026–Present)
On November 25, 2025, Maton signed a two-year, $14.5 million contract with the Chicago Cubs. He is listed on the Cubs’ roster and is under the two-year agreement signed late in 2025.
Notable Events and Milestones
Maton’s immaculate inning on June 15, 2022, stands out as a rare bullpen achievement and is part of a unique game in which two immaculate innings occurred on the same date by teammates. He also earned a World Series championship as a member of the 2022 Houston Astros, and he experienced a notable personal moment when he faced his younger brother in the major leagues in October 2022.
Phil Maton Career Wins
Through June 25, 2026, Maton held a major league win–loss record of 23–21 with a 4.09 ERA and 570 strikeouts. Those totals reflect his work across multiple major league bullpens since his 2017 debut and include contributions in both middle and late-inning relief roles.
Major League Baseball Highlights
Maton’s MLB career highlights include his 2017 major league debut and steady bullpen presence with the San Diego Padres, Cleveland Indians, Houston Astros and several clubs thereafter. His 2022 season with Houston included the immaculate inning and culminated in a World Series championship, his first as a major league player.
Other Wins & Performances
In the minor leagues Maton produced strong strikeout rates, notably in 2015 with Tri-City when he struck out 58 batters in 32 2/3 innings and in 2016 when he combined for 78 strikeouts in 51 2/3 innings across three levels. Those performances helped accelerate his ascent to Triple-A and eventual promotion to the majors.
Phil Maton Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Maton grew up in Chatham, Illinois, and comes from a family with multiple baseball players. Two younger brothers have also pursued baseball careers: Nick Maton, who has played professionally, and Jacob Maton, who was drafted and later played college baseball at Coastal Carolina.
Personal Life
Maton is married to Katelynn Cook, a four-year player for the Louisiana Tech softball team who graduated in 2016. He grew up as a St. Louis Cardinals fan and has maintained family ties to the region while building a professional baseball career.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 season was eventful for Maton, beginning with a one-year contract with the St. Louis Cardinals and continuing with a midseason trade to the Texas Rangers. Between the two clubs he combined for 63 relief appearances in 2025, recording a 4–5 combined record with sub-3.75 ERAs for each stint, multiple saves and a busy workload that led to a late-season free agent signing with the Chicago Cubs.
Maton’s 2025 campaign reinforced his role as a reliable bullpen option capable of handling high-leverage innings and short relief appearances. The late signing with the Cubs positioned him for the next chapter of his major league career under a multi-year contract.