Nick Maton Bio
Nicholas Maton, known professionally as Nick Maton, is an American professional baseball utility player who is currently a free agent. Born on February 18, 1997, in Chatham, Illinois, Maton has built a journeyman career across Major League Baseball (MLB), suiting up for the Philadelphia Phillies, Detroit Tigers, Baltimore Orioles, and Chicago White Sox. A versatile defender who can play multiple infield and outfield positions, he has served as a dependable role player since making his MLB debut in 2021.
Selected by the Philadelphia Phillies in the seventh round of the 2017 MLB draft, Maton developed into a switch-hitting utility option known for occasional power and positional flexibility. Over the course of his MLB career through the 2025 season, he has posted a .201 batting average with 17 home runs and 67 runs batted in.
Early Life and Background
Nicholas Maton was born and raised in Chatham, Illinois, where he attended Glenwood High School. He became a four-year starter on the Titans baseball team, working his way into one of the most accomplished high school players in the area. His development as a two-way player set the stage for the next step in his career.
As a senior, Maton was named first-team All-State and the Central State Eight Conference Player of the Year. He batted .442 with 28 runs batted in, 45 runs scored, and 20 stolen bases, while also going 8–1 as a pitcher with a 0.95 earned run average and 102 strikeouts in 59 innings. His performance drew the attention of MLB scouts, and he was selected in the 40th round of the 2015 MLB draft by the Oakland Athletics. Maton opted not to sign, choosing instead to play college baseball.
Path to Baseball
Maton began his college career at Eastern Illinois University, where he played as the Panthers’ starting shortstop during his freshman year. He batted .299 with 12 doubles, four triples, and three home runs, scoring 28 runs and driving in 24. His play earned him a spot on the Ohio Valley Conference All-Freshman team. That summer, he played collegiate baseball for the Fayetteville SwampDogs of the Coastal Plain League, batting .175 with two doubles and 15 runs batted in.
After his freshman year, Maton transferred to Lincoln Land Community College. In his only season with the Loggers, he batted .408 with eight home runs, 46 runs batted in, 60 runs scored, and 33 stolen bases, while also going 4–1 as a pitcher in 13 appearances. Initially committed to continue his career at the University of Missouri, he was instead selected by the Philadelphia Phillies in the seventh round of the 2017 MLB draft and signed with the organization.
Nick Maton Career
Early Career (2017–2020)
Maton opened his professional career with the short-season Williamsport Crosscutters, where he batted .252 with two home runs, 13 runs batted in, and 34 runs scored, stealing 10 bases in 58 games. In 2018, he advanced to the Single-A Lakewood BlueClaws, hitting .256 with eight home runs and 51 runs batted in across 114 games, earning a South Atlantic League All-Star selection.
The 2019 season saw Maton start at High-A Clearwater Threshers, where he batted .276 with five home runs, 14 doubles, and 45 runs batted in. A Florida State League All-Star, he earned a midseason promotion to the Double-A Reading Fightin Phils, hitting .210 with two home runs in 21 games. After the season, the Phillies sent him to the Arizona Fall League to play for the Scottsdale Scorpions. In 2020, he was named one of the Phillies’ top 10 prospects by Baseball America, though he did not play a minor league game due to the cancellation caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Philadelphia Phillies (2021–2022)
Maton was added to the Phillies’ 40-man roster on November 20, 2020, to protect him from the Rule 5 draft. He made his MLB debut on April 19, 2021, starting at shortstop against the San Francisco Giants. That night, he collected his first major league hit, a single off starter Kevin Gausman, and opened his career with a six-game hitting streak that included multiple hits in each of the final four games. On May 16, 2021, he hit his first two MLB home runs against the Toronto Blue Jays.
In 2022, Maton recorded his first career walk-off hit on August 23 against the Cincinnati Reds, singling off Alexis Díaz. During the regular season, he batted .250 with a .341 on-base percentage and .514 slugging percentage in 72 at-bats, adding five home runs and 17 runs batted in. He appeared in 10 games each in left field, right field, and at second base, and played two games apiece at shortstop, third base, and as a pitcher. He also made a postseason appearance during the Phillies’ 2022 playoff run, pinch-hitting in Game 2 of the World Series.
Detroit Tigers (2023)
On January 7, 2023, Maton was part of a trade that sent him, Matt Vierling, and Donny Sands to the Detroit Tigers in exchange for Gregory Soto and Kody Clemens. He wasted little time making an impact, hitting his first career walk-off home run on April 14 against the San Francisco Giants in the 11th inning. Despite that highlight, Maton struggled through much of the year and was optioned to the Triple-A Toledo Mud Hens on June 25.
In 93 games for Detroit, Maton batted .173 with a .288 on-base percentage and .305 slugging percentage, hitting eight home runs and driving in 32 runs. The Tigers designated him for assignment on February 5, 2024, ending his time in the organization.
Baltimore Orioles (2024)
Maton was traded to the Baltimore Orioles on February 7, 2024, in exchange for cash considerations. He was optioned to the Triple-A Norfolk Tides to begin the season but was designated for assignment on March 26 following the signing of Tony Kemp. After clearing waivers, he was outrighted to Norfolk on March 31. In 41 games for the Tides, he hit .294 with a .387 on-base percentage, seven home runs, and 28 runs batted in.
On June 19, the Orioles selected Maton’s contract to the active roster after Jordan Westburg suffered an injury. He appeared in one game as a defensive replacement before being designated for assignment following the promotion of Heston Kjerstad. He returned to Norfolk again, then was brought back to the majors on September 2. In four games with Baltimore, he went 0-for-5 with two strikeouts. Maton was designated for assignment once more on September 15, cleared waivers, and elected free agency on October 4.
Chicago White Sox Era (2025)
On December 3, 2024, Maton signed a minor league contract with the Chicago White Sox. He made the team’s Opening Day roster in 2025 and was selected to the active roster on March 27. In 23 appearances for Chicago, he batted .173 with a .295 on-base percentage and .327 slugging percentage, adding two home runs and four runs batted in.
Maton was designated for assignment on April 26 and outrighted to the Triple-A Charlotte Knights on April 28. The White Sox selected his contract again on May 7, only to designate him for assignment two appearances later on May 10. He cleared waivers and was outrighted to Charlotte on May 12, and the White Sox organization released him on June 19, 2025.
Notable Events and Milestones
One of the signature moments of Maton’s career came on April 14, 2023, when he delivered a walk-off home run in the 11th inning against the San Francisco Giants during his time with Detroit. He also appeared in Game 2 of the 2022 World Series as a member of the Phillies, marking his first taste of postseason play at the highest level.
Nick Maton Career Wins
Nicholas Maton has not been credited with an MLB pitching win, as he has served primarily as a position player throughout his major league career. His value has been measured by defensive versatility, contact ability, and occasional power at the plate rather than by counting stats in the wins column.
Nick Maton Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Nicholas Maton comes from a baseball family with deep ties to the sport. His older brother, Phil Maton, is a pitcher who has played in MLB for multiple teams, most recently the Chicago Cubs. The brothers share a passion for the game that has shaped their professional paths.
Personal Life
Off the field, Maton is known for his close relationship with his brother Phil, who has served as a source of guidance and support throughout his career. The two have continued to represent their family name in the major leagues, with Phil’s tenure in Chicago mirroring Nicholas’s own time in the Windy City with the White Sox.
2025 Season Performance
Maton entered 2025 with a minor league deal from the Chicago White Sox, and his strong spring training earned him a spot on the Opening Day roster. The early portion of his season was marked by a brief but productive stretch in which he flashed his trademark power, hitting two home runs and driving in four runs across 23 appearances.
His time in the majors was interrupted by repeated transactions, as he was designated for assignment and outrighted multiple times between late April and mid-May. Each time he cleared waivers, he reported to the Triple-A Charlotte Knights before being recalled by the White Sox. After two more appearances, the team designated him for assignment once again, and he was released by the organization on June 19, 2025, making him a free agent.
Following his release, Maton’s outlook for the remainder of 2025 remained uncertain, though his versatility and experience continued to make him a candidate for a depth role with a major league club. His ability to play every position on the diamond, combined with occasional pop from both sides of the plate, kept him in demand as a utility option for teams in need of roster flexibility.