Few people get the chance to spend more than 30 years working for the same organization. Those who do usually earn a reputation for being reliable, productive, and adaptable enough to survive a constantly changing workplace. Víctor Mata accomplished exactly that with the New York Yankees, first as a player, then as a coach, and later as one of the organization’s most trusted scouts.
Víctor José Mata Born: June 17, 1961 (Santiago, Dominican Republic) Yankees Tenure: 1984-85 (player); 1992-2018 (scout)
Mata was born in Santiago, the second-largest city of the Dominican Republic. Unlike the touristy beach towns, Santiago is known for its green mountains and cigars. Like so many on the island before him, and so many more after him, Mata grew up to love the game of baseball. This love, and his talent, eventually secured Mata an amateur contract to play professionally. That contract was signed on March 16, 1978, between the 17-year-old Mata and the New York Yankees.
The Yankees sent their barely 6-foot and 160 pound rookie outfielder to start his career with the Oneonta Yankees of the New York-Pennsylvania League. Mata spent the 1978 and 1979 seasons in Oneonta and would see his numbers improve significantly in his second season.
After making improvements, the Yankees sent Mata to their Single-A affiliate, the Greensboro Hornets, to start the 1980 season. This kicked off a three-year stint for the right-handed batter. That third season in 1982 was his best and saw Mata hit .314, with 5 home runs, and 8 steals. This was good enough to get the now 22-year-old promoted to Double-A Nashville to start the 1983 season.
Mata kept the ball rolling with the Sounds. For the second straight season, and despite the jump in competition level, Mata slashed .303/.370/.430 good for a .800 OPS. Like a ship rising with the tide, Mata was again promoted after the season and started the 1984 season on the doorstep of the majors with the Yankees’ Triple-A team, the Columbus Clippers.
1984 proved to be the year all the work and grind finally paid off for Mata. In July, the Yankees called Mata up and he made his big-league debut on the 22nd against the Minnesota Twins. In his debut, Mata went 2-for-4 with a double and a run scored. By simply putting on the pinstripes, Mata became one of the first notable Dominican-born players to appear with the Yankees.
Mata stuck with the big-league club for the last few months of the season getting 76 plate appearances in 30 games. In the limited action Mata posted a .329/.333/.443 slash line and was able to sneak one ball over the outfield fence in Yankee Stadium against Cleveland. It was August 5th, and his solo shot to left got the scoring started in what would be a 4-0 triumph.
The Yankees missed the playoffs in 1984, but Mata had the first box of the dream checked and ahead of the next season things seemed to be lining up for at least an opportunity to be the team’s fourth outfielder. That opportunity though did not go as Mata hoped.
Really, the start of the 1985 season would not go as anyone would hope. Owner George Steinbrenner fired manager Yogi Berra 16 games into the season. Billy Martin was brought in to replace him in his fourth stint at the helm. Mata played two games in April and another four in June but spent most of the season at Triple-A.
Mata remained lost in the shuffle, spending the 1986 season in Columbus before reaching free agency.
Mata played one season at the Triple-A level for the Orioles and spent some time in the Mexican professional league following his time with the Yankees, also always remaining a popular figure in Licey, the Dominican Winter League. However, it was not long before he returned to the organization as a coach. That return was in 1992, when he spent two seasons as the coach of the Dominican Summer League Yankees/Padres squad. After the Yankees decided to split from the Padres and have their own summer league team they kept Mata on as a scout.
Starting off as a scout back in his home country Mata rose in the ranks eventually becoming the Yankees’ Latin American Field Coordinator. Mata served under various titles but would become one of the team’s best scouts.
The list of players Mata helped bring into the organization is impressive. It includes Robinson Canó, Gary Sánchez, Eduardo Núñez, Iván Nova, Miguel Andújar, Héctor Noesí, and Melky Cabrera. Another key signing was Joaquín Arias, who was eventually included in the Alex Rodriguez trade. Mata was also credited as an important scout and crosschecker in the signing of Luis Severino.
At some point between the 2018 and 2019 seasons Mata called it a career. As someone who grew up reading the scouting reports of these guys as they signed and came up through the minors, a personal thank you Mr. Mata. I am glad I got to know Robby Canó and the Milkman in pinstripes. While Mata’s playing career in pinstripes was brief, his influence on the organization lasted for decades through the players he helped identify and sign.
Happy birthday Victor!
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