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.
Arizona grad JJ Matijevic will soon learn the challenge of making the bigs
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Greg Hansen
Columnist
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Arizona's JJ Matijevic (24) uses the last minutes before first pitch to get limbered up to play first base against Grand Canyon University at Hi Corbett Field, Wednesday, March 29, 2017, Tucson, Ariz. Kelly Presnell / Arizona Daily Star
Greg Hansen
Columnist
