Matt Downs
Encyclopedia
Matthew Russell "Matt" Downs (born March 19, 1984 in Tuscaloosa, Alabama
) is a Major League Baseball
second baseman
for the Houston Astros
.
Downs graduated from Bibb County High School in Centreville, AL and he played a year playing as a pitcher/infielder for Shelton State Community College
in Alabama in 2003.
He was drafted in the 25th round by the Pittsburgh Pirates
in the 2003 MLB June Amateur Draft, while playing for Shelton State Community College
. In 2006 the San Francisco Giants
drafted him in the 36th round from the University of Alabama
. He played 2006 in the Rookie League
Giants franchise, in 2007 for the Salem-Keizer Volcanoes
, and in 2009 at their Single-A San Jose Giants
and AAA Fresno Grizzlies
teams. He was named the Northwest League co-MVP in 2007 while playing for the Volcanoes.
On June 16, 2009, Downs was called up to the San Francisco Giants
, replacing Emmanuel Burriss
, and he collected his first two big league hits June 17 against the Angels' Matt Palmer
. He hit his 1st Major League home run off Milwaukee's Jeff Suppan
on June 28.
He was optioned back to triple-A July 3, but was quickly recalled again on July 21, due to a struggling Juan Uribe, who returned to more of utility role. Downs started 3 of 4 games against Braves, batting .182 and going 2-for-11. He appeared in just 2 more games on Giants' 10-game road trip, went 0-for-6 in Colorado and was then optioned back to Fresno where he finished season.
Downs was designated for assignment by the San Francisco Giants on August 23, 2010 to make room for Cody Ross
. He was claimed by the Houston Astros on August 25, and sent to Triple-A Round Rock.
Tuscaloosa, Alabama
Tuscaloosa is a city in and the seat of Tuscaloosa County in west central Alabama . Located on the Black Warrior River, it is the fifth-largest city in Alabama, with a population of 90,468 in 2010...
) is a Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
second baseman
Second baseman
Second base, or 2B, is the second of four stations on a baseball diamond which must be touched in succession by a base runner in order to score a run for that player's team. A second baseman is the baseball player guarding second base...
for the Houston Astros
Houston Astros
The Houston Astros are a Major League Baseball team located in Houston, Texas. They are a member of the National League Central division. The Astros are expected to join the American League West division in 2013. Since , they have played their home games at Minute Maid Park, known as Enron Field...
.
Downs graduated from Bibb County High School in Centreville, AL and he played a year playing as a pitcher/infielder for Shelton State Community College
Shelton State Community College
Shelton State Community College is a two-year community college located in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. Operated by the Alabama State Department of Postsecondary Education, Shelton is one of the largest two-year colleges in the state. Approximately 7,000 students are enrolled in some form of coursework,...
in Alabama in 2003.
He was drafted in the 25th round by the Pittsburgh Pirates
Pittsburgh Pirates
The Pittsburgh Pirates are a Major League Baseball club based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. They play in the Central Division of the National League, and are five-time World Series Champions...
in the 2003 MLB June Amateur Draft, while playing for Shelton State Community College
Shelton State Community College
Shelton State Community College is a two-year community college located in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. Operated by the Alabama State Department of Postsecondary Education, Shelton is one of the largest two-year colleges in the state. Approximately 7,000 students are enrolled in some form of coursework,...
. In 2006 the San Francisco Giants
San Francisco Giants
The San Francisco Giants are a Major League Baseball team based in San Francisco, California, playing in the National League West Division....
drafted him in the 36th round from the University of Alabama
University of Alabama
The University of Alabama is a public coeducational university located in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, United States....
. He played 2006 in the Rookie League
Arizona League
The Arizona League is a minor league baseball league that operates in and around Phoenix, Arizona. It is a rookie-level professional baseball league run by Major League Baseball since 1989. Games are played at the spring training complexes of the team's parent organizations from mid-June until the...
Giants franchise, in 2007 for the Salem-Keizer Volcanoes
Salem-Keizer Volcanoes
The Salem-Keizer Volcanoes are a minor league baseball team in Keizer, Oregon, United States. They are a Short-Season Class A team in the Northwest League, and have been an affiliate of the San Francisco Giants since the Volcanoes' inception in 1997...
, and in 2009 at their Single-A San Jose Giants
San Jose Giants
The San Jose Giants are a minor league baseball team in San Jose, California, USA. They are a Class A - Advanced team in the Northern Division of the California League, and have been a farm team of the San Francisco Giants since 1988. Home games are played at San Jose Municipal Stadium...
and AAA Fresno Grizzlies
Fresno Grizzlies
The Fresno Grizzlies are a minor league baseball team based in Fresno, California. The team, which plays in the Pacific Coast League , is the Triple-A affiliate of the San Francisco Giants major league club. The Grizzlies play in Chukchansi Park , located in downtown Fresno and built in 2002...
teams. He was named the Northwest League co-MVP in 2007 while playing for the Volcanoes.
On June 16, 2009, Downs was called up to the San Francisco Giants
San Francisco Giants
The San Francisco Giants are a Major League Baseball team based in San Francisco, California, playing in the National League West Division....
, replacing Emmanuel Burriss
Emmanuel Burriss
Emmanuel "Manny" Allen Burriss is a Major League Baseball second baseman for the San Francisco Giants. He is a switch-hitter who throws right-handed and has played second base, shortstop, and third base.-Early life:...
, and he collected his first two big league hits June 17 against the Angels' Matt Palmer
Matt Palmer
Jonathan Matthew "Matt" Palmer is an American professional baseball pitcher who is a free agent. He bats and throws right-handed...
. He hit his 1st Major League home run off Milwaukee's Jeff Suppan
Jeff Suppan
Jeffrey Scot Suppan , is a Major League Baseball pitcher, who is currently a free agent.-Baseball career:Suppan was drafted out of high school by the Boston Red Sox in the second round of the 1993 amateur draft, and rapidly ascended to the Majors making his debut at the age of 20...
on June 28.
He was optioned back to triple-A July 3, but was quickly recalled again on July 21, due to a struggling Juan Uribe, who returned to more of utility role. Downs started 3 of 4 games against Braves, batting .182 and going 2-for-11. He appeared in just 2 more games on Giants' 10-game road trip, went 0-for-6 in Colorado and was then optioned back to Fresno where he finished season.
Downs was designated for assignment by the San Francisco Giants on August 23, 2010 to make room for Cody Ross
Cody Ross
Cody Joseph Ross is an American professional baseball outfielder. He has played with the Detroit Tigers , Los Angeles Dodgers , Cincinnati Reds , and Florida Marlins and San Francisco Giants...
. He was claimed by the Houston Astros on August 25, and sent to Triple-A Round Rock.