Air Force discovers another gem in Malakye Matsumoto
Whoever is responsible for discovering late blooming Southern California high school baseball prospects for the Air Force Academy deserves a raise.
It was six years ago when Air Force took a 6-foot-7 pitcher/catcher named Paul Skenes out of El Toro High School. Last season, Skenes won the National League Cy Young Award.
This season, Air Force found another tall, promising prospect in 6-5 Malakye Matsumoto from Sherman Oaks Notre Dame High. As a freshman, he played on the freshman team. As a sophomore, he was on a junior varsity. He only pitched three innings last season in college. This season, with a fastball that has reached 94 mph, he has become a key player for the Knights (14-1). He also hit .385 with two home runs, the first of his career.
Yes, Matsumoto is well aware of Skenes’ journey and draws inspiration from it.
“That’s the way forward. That’s the goal,” he said.
Matsumoto said the Air Force began identifying him as a junior and saw him playing in a travel ball tournament. Selling him into the Air Force wasn’t difficult because of his family background. His father and grandfather were in the Air Force and his uncle was in the Army. He has a 4.3 grade point average.
“My dad told me everything about the Air Force,” he said. “Teach me discipline, make me a better man and prepare me for life.”
Patience and trust in the process have been Matsumoto’s two guiding principles.
He enjoyed spending his first two years playing on lower level teams without having to immediately play on a college team while waiting for his body to mature.
“Most importantly, it helped build my confidence,” he said. “I played shortstop all year and batted third. That helped me build a base. I started growing, getting stronger and feeling more comfortable.”
He had no problem “staying in the background.”
“No one really knew me,” he said. “It allowed me to have more fun playing the game. I didn’t feel pressure at the plate playing JV baseball.”
But the coaches knew Matsumoto’s potential as they saw him go from 5-10 to 6-5. Strength coach Nick Garcia said Matsumoto never missed a workout in the weight room. He played second base, third base and shortstop as a college junior. He stepped onto the mound briefly. Everything was set up for him to show what he could do as a senior.
“We always knew he would develop and become a big impact player in the future,” co-coach Nick LaFace said. “Last year his defense needed to improve, he worked on it and played incredible third base. He definitely has a big arm.”
There are many different ways to realize your potential in baseball. Some people stop growing after Little League stardom. Others are ready to play varsity as freshmen because of their physical and mental prowess. Matsumoto reminds parents not to be so quick to lobby for immediate college playing time.
“They don’t understand that it puts a lot of pressure on the kids,” he said. “I’ve seen it. They get called up immediately as freshmen. All the pressure is put on their shoulders. Parents want them to be on varsity not realizing they’re not going to play or when they’re exposed to high-level throwing, high-level hitting, being so young, unless they’re truly a varsity level player, they’re going to be exposed or it’s going to be humiliating or lower confidence.”
Matsumoto’s mother is of Korean descent and is the principal of the Hawthorne Math and Science Academy. His father is of Japanese origin and works in security.
As for the Air Force, don’t expect Matsumoto to be flying anytime soon.
“They told me I won’t be able to get on some planes at 6-5,” he said.
Don’t worry. They had the same response for the Skenes 6-7, who performed quite well.
Skenes left the Air Force after two years, but Matsumoto likes what he sees on his journey.
“It prepares me for life,” he said.
But things change, and beware of Matsumoto, the thrower. He’s just learning what he can do.
“Pitching has become a reality,” he said. “I’m totally open to that in college. I’m going in there as a two-way player.”
