Arizona grad JJ Matijevic will soon learn the challenge of making the bigs

Drafted in the third round by the Houston Astros, UA’s All-America first baseman JJ Matijevic is about to begin what he hopes is a short journey to the big leagues. What he probably doesn’t know is how difficult it can be. Of Houston’s third-round draft picks from 2000-16, only two — Drew Stubbs and Kirk Saarloos — became starters for more than two years. Twelve of the Astros’ third-round draftees didn’t (or haven’t yet) reached the majors. Canyon del Oro graduate T.J. Steele, a fourth-round pick of Houston in 2008 and an All-Pac-10 outfielder for the Arizona Wildcats, was unable to advance past Double-A in five minor-league seasons. 

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