Houston Astros Minor Leagues The
Houston Astros selected Matijevic with the 75th overall selection of the
2017 Major League Baseball draft. He signed with the Astros, receiving a $700,000
signing bonus, and was assigned to the
Tri-City ValleyCats of the
Low–A New York-Penn League, where he began his professional career. Matijevic was promoted to the
Quad Cities River Bandits of the
Single–A Midwest League in August. In 59 games between the two teams, he hit .228 with seven home runs, 31 RBI, and 11 stolen bases. Matijevic began 2018 with Quad Cities. In May, the Astros promoted him to the
Buies Creek Astros of the
High–A Carolina League. In 101 games between both teams, he hit .277/.350/.538 with 22 home runs and 62 RBI. He began 2019 with the
Corpus Christi Hooks of the
Double–A Texas League. On April 30, Matijevic received a 50-game suspension after failing a second positive test for a drug of abuse. He was selected to play in the
Arizona Fall League for the
Peoria Javelinas following the season. Matijevic did not play in a game in 2020 due to the cancellation of the minor league season because of the
COVID-19 pandemic. He split the 2021 season between Corpus Christi and the Triple-A
Sugar Land Skeeters, slashing .254/.341/.512 with 25 home runs and 75 RBI in 109 total games. The Astros invited Matijevic to
Spring Training in
2022. He did not make the team at the outset of the season and was assigned to Triple-A Sugar Land, who had rebranded as the Sugar Land Space Cowboys. He began the season batting .310 (13-for-42), .420 OBP, .714 SLG, 1.134 OPS, with four home runs, and 10 RBI over 11 games.
Major Leagues After a hamstring injury to
Jose Altuve, the Astros called up Matijevic from Sugar Land on April 20,
2022. He made his major league debut on April 22 versus the
Toronto Blue Jays, as a
pinch hitter in the ninth inning of a 4–3 loss. Matijevic struck out in his lone at bat. He received his first career start in the major leagues on April 27, manning first base versus the
Texas Rangers. On June 19, Matijevic recorded his first major league hit, a home run, against
Chicago White Sox starter
Michael Kopech, which landed in the Crawford Box seats at
Minute Maid Park in a 4–3 Astros' win. In the bottom of the ninth inning versus the
New York Yankees on July 21, Matijevic hit a walk-off infield single with the bases loaded to score
Alex Bregman for a 3–2 win . Matijevic was optioned to the Triple-A
Sugar Land Space Cowboys to begin the 2023 season. He was
designated for assignment on March 30, after
Corey Julks and
César Salazar were added to the roster. On April 3, he cleared waivers and was sent outright to Triple-A Sugar Land. In 118 games for Sugar Land, Matijevic batted .244/.329/.441 with 16 home runs, 76 RBI, and 8 stolen bases. He became a free agent following the season on November 6.
Dorados de Chihuahua On April 10, 2024, Matijevic signed with the
Dorados de Chihuahua of the
Mexican League. In 31 games for Chihuahua, he batted .273/.347/.400 with two home runs and 15 RBI. On June 11, Matijevic was released by the Dorados.
Caliente de Durango On June 12, 2024, Matijevic was claimed off release waivers by the
Caliente de Durango of the
Mexican League. In 38 games for Durango, Matijevic batted .361/.427/.489 with one home run, 18 RBI, and one stolen base.
Charleston Dirty Birds On April 24, 2025, Matijevic signed with the
Charleston Dirty Birds of the
Atlantic League of Professional Baseball. In 26 appearances for Charleston, Matijevic batted .273/.374/.566 with eight home runs, 20 RBI, and four stolen bases.
Tigres de Quintana Roo On May 31, 2025, Matijevic's contractual rights were traded to the
Tigres de Quintana Roo of the
Mexican League. In 45 games he hit .293/.344/.533 with 8 home runs, 40 RBIs and 3 stolen bases. ==See also==