Matt Sauer Bio
Matthew David Sauer is an American professional baseball pitcher who most recently signed with the KT Wiz of the KBO League. He has previously played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Kansas City Royals and the Los Angeles Dodgers. A former second-round draft pick, Sauer began his professional journey in 2017 and has built his career across the minor leagues, the majors, and now international baseball.
Known for his strikeout ability and his road back from injury, Sauer has pitched at every level of the New York Yankees system before reaching the big leagues. He made his MLB debut in 2024 and continues to develop his craft in the KBO League, where he now wears jersey number 32 for the KT Wiz.
Early Life and Background
Matthew David Sauer was born on January 21, 1999, and grew up in a family that supported his athletic development. His parents, David and Tami Sauer, raised him in the Santa Maria area of California. His mother, Tami, was born on Kadena Air Base in Okinawa, giving the family a connection to both American and overseas military communities.
Sauer attended Righetti High School in Santa Maria, California, where he quickly emerged as one of the top high school pitchers in the country. As a senior, he posted an impressive 9–1 record with a 0.98 earned run average (ERA) and 142 strikeouts, drawing the attention of major league scouts. Following his senior season, he committed to the University of Arizona to play college baseball.
Path to Baseball
Sauer’s dominant senior season at Righetti High School established him as a premium pitching prospect. His combination of strikeout totals and low ERA made him one of the most sought-after prep arms in the 2017 draft class. By committing to the University of Arizona, he had a clear path to continue developing as a college pitcher.
That path changed quickly when the New York Yankees selected him in the second round, with the 54th overall pick, of the 2017 Major League Baseball Draft. Sauer officially signed with the Yankees on June 24, 2017, choosing the professional route over college. He was assigned to the rookie-level Gulf Coast League Yankees to begin his career.
Matt Sauer Career
Early Career (2017–2020)
Sauer spent his first professional season in 2017 with the Gulf Coast League Yankees, where he posted a 0–2 record with a 5.40 ERA in 11 and two-thirds innings pitched. In 2018, he moved up to the Low-A Staten Island Yankees and went 3–6 with a 3.90 ERA in 13 starts and 67 innings, showing steady development as a young starter.
The 2019 season brought challenges, as Sauer split the year with the Single-A Charleston RiverDogs but pitched only eight and two-thirds innings due to injury. He did not play a minor league game in 2020 after the season was canceled because of the COVID-19 pandemic, pausing his on-field progress for a full year.
New York Yankees System Breakthrough (2021–2023)
Sauer returned healthy in 2021, splitting the season between the Single-A Tampa Tarpons and the High-A Hudson Valley Renegades. Across 23 games and 21 starts, he went 5–6 with a 4.69 ERA and 127 strikeouts over 111 and one-third innings, reestablishing his strikeout profile.
In 2022, he began the year with Hudson Valley and earned a promotion to the Double-A Somerset Patriots in August. On August 25, he struck out 17 batters in a single game, a signature performance. He finished the year with 22 starts, a 4.54 ERA, and 134 strikeouts across 109 innings. In 2023, Sauer spent most of the year with Somerset, going 6–5 with a 3.41 ERA and 93 strikeouts in 14 games, before pitching for the Mesa Solar Sox of the Arizona Fall League.
Kansas City Royals Era (2024)
On December 6, 2023, the Kansas City Royals selected Sauer from the Yankees in the Rule 5 draft, giving him a path to the major leagues. On March 23, 2024, Royals manager Matt Quatraro announced that Sauer had made Kansas City’s Opening Day roster as a multi-inning relief option.
Sauer made his MLB debut on March 31, 2024, against the Minnesota Twins, pitching a scoreless inning of relief. He recorded his first strikeout on April 11 against Jon Singleton of the Houston Astros. In 14 appearances for the Royals, he struggled to a 7.71 ERA with nine strikeouts across 16 and one-third innings. On May 20, he was designated for assignment following the promotion of Sam Long. The Royals returned him to the Yankees organization on May 26, and he finished 2024 in the minors.
Los Angeles Dodgers Era (2025)
On December 16, 2024, Sauer signed a minor league contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers. He was added to the 40-man roster and called up to the majors on March 18, 2025. After one game active for the Tokyo Series without appearing, he was optioned to the Triple-A Oklahoma City Comets.
Sauer made his Dodgers debut on April 7 against the Washington Nationals, then returned to the minors the next day. On April 29, he recorded his first career win against the Miami Marlins, and on May 7, he notched his first career save against the same club. Across 10 games with Los Angeles, he allowed 23 runs in 29 and two-thirds innings with 24 strikeouts for a 6.37 ERA. He also made 17 starts in Oklahoma City, going 5–5 with a 5.86 ERA. He was designated for assignment on September 6, released on September 10, re-signed on September 18, and released again on November 4.
KT Wiz Era (2025–Present)
On November 7, 2025, Sauer signed a one-year, $950,000 contract with the KT Wiz of the KBO League, beginning a new chapter overseas. The deal marked his transition from affiliated American baseball to the top league in South Korea.
Driving Style and Strengths
Sauer’s identity as a pitcher has always centered on swing-and-miss stuff and the ability to miss bats at every level. His 17-strikeout game at Double-A Somerset in 2022 remains a defining example of his raw stuff. In the major leagues, the Royals deployed him as a multi-inning reliever, and the Dodgers used him in a similar hybrid role.
Notable Events and Milestones
Sauer’s career highlights include his MLB debut on March 31, 2024, his first career win against the Miami Marlins on April 29, 2025, and his first career save against the same team on May 7, 2025. His 17-strikeout performance for Somerset in August 2022 stands as one of the most memorable outings of his minor league career.
Matt Sauer Career Stats
Through the 2025 MLB season, Sauer appeared at the major league level with both the Royals and the Dodgers, logging a combined 2–1 record, a 6.85 ERA, and 33 strikeouts. In Triple-A Oklahoma City with the Dodgers organization, he made 17 starts and went 5–5 with a 5.86 ERA. In the KBO League, his early work with the KT Wiz produced a 2–2 record, a 4.62 ERA, and 44 strikeouts through May 17, 2026.
Major League Baseball Highlights
Matt Sauer’s MLB resume includes stints with the Kansas City Royals in 2024 and the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2025. He made his debut with the Royals on March 31, 2024, and earned his first career win and save as a member of the Dodgers in April and May 2025. His combined MLB line through 2025 stands at 2–1 with a 6.85 ERA and 33 strikeouts.
Minor League Highlights
Sauer spent several years climbing through the Yankees system, reaching as high as Triple-A and Double-A. His 17-strikeout game with the Somerset Patriots in August 2022 and his 2023 season with Somerset, where he went 6–5 with a 3.41 ERA, are among his most notable minor league achievements. He also pitched in the Arizona Fall League with the Mesa Solar Sox after the 2023 season.
Matt Sauer Family
Family Background
Matt Sauer is the son of David and Tami Sauer. His mother, Tami, was born on Kadena Air Base in Okinawa, connecting the family to U.S. military communities abroad. The Sauers supported Matt’s baseball career from his high school days at Righetti through his professional journey.
Personal Life
Sauer met his wife, Reagan, in middle school, and the two later attended the same high school in Santa Maria. He is a Christian and has credited his faith, along with the influence of former minor league roommates Gary Whitlock and Glenn Otto, with helping him navigate the ups and downs of professional baseball.
2025 Season Performance
Matt Sauer’s 2025 season began with a minor league deal with the Los Angeles Dodgers, signed on December 16, 2024. He was added to the Dodgers’ 40-man roster and called up in March, then debuted for the club on April 7 against the Washington Nationals. He picked up his first career MLB win on April 29 against the Miami Marlins and his first career save on May 7 against the same team.
Across 10 appearances with the Dodgers, Sauer posted a 6.37 ERA while bouncing between Los Angeles and Triple-A Oklahoma City. In Oklahoma City, he logged 17 starts and a 5–5 record, continuing to refine his craft. He was designated for assignment on September 6, released on September 10, briefly re-signed, and released again on November 4.
Just three days after his final release from the Dodgers organization, Sauer signed a one-year, $950,000 contract with the KT Wiz of the KBO League on November 7, 2025. The move gave him a chance to reset his career in South Korea’s top professional league.