Matthew Liberatore

BIOGRAPHY

Matthew Liberatore was born on November 6, 1999, in Peoria, Arizona. He is a pitcher in the MLB.

Born and raised in the suburbs of Phoenix, Arizona, Liberatore was selected by the Tampa Bay Rays in the first round of the 2018 Major League Baseball draft out of high school. He signed with the Rays and played in their minor league system for two seasons before he was traded to the Cardinals prior to the 2020 season. He played in their minor league system before making his MLB debut in 2022.

The Tampa Bay Rays selected Liberatore in the first round, with the 16th overall selection, in the 2018 Major League Baseball draft. He signed with the team for a $3.5 million signing bonus. He was assigned to the Gulf Coast Rays of the Rookie-level Gulf Coast League. After posting a 0.98 ERA in eight starts, Liberatore was promoted to the Princeton Rays of the Advanced Rookie Appalachian League. He pitched in one game for Princeton to close out his first professional season. Liberatore began the 2019 season in extended spring training before he was assigned to the Bowling Green Hot Rods of the Class A Midwest League on May 15, with whom he spent the remainder of the year. Over 16 games (15 starts), Liberatore went 6–2 with a 3.10 ERA, striking out 76 batters over 78+1⁄3 innings.

Liberatore returned to Memphis to begin the 2022 season. After going 3-3 with a 3.83 ERA and 46 strikeouts over forty innings, the Cardinals announced on May 19 that they would be selecting his contract and promoting him to the major leagues. He made his MLB debut on May 21 as the starting pitcher versus the Pittsburgh Pirates, throwing 4+2⁄3 innings and giving up seven hits, four earned runs, and two walks while striking out three. They optioned him back to Memphis the next day, but he was recalled one day later after Steven Matz was placed on the injured list. On May 29, he earned his first career win, tossing 5.0 scoreless innings against the Milwaukee Brewers while striking out 6.

Liberatore was optioned to Triple-A Memphis to begin the 2023 season.