Four Huskers selected in 2023 MLB Draft

Brice Matthews led the way among a quartet of Nebraska baseball players who were selected in the 2023 MLB Draft through Monday.

Matthews was drafted by the Houston Astros in the first round at No. 28 overall. The slot value at that pick is listed at $2,880,700.

Max Anderson joined Matthews in the top two rounds as he was drafted by the Detroit Tigers with the 45th selection in the second round just 17 picks after Matthews. His slot value comes in a little lower at $1,906,200. The one-two punch of Emmett Olson and Jace Kaminska had to wait one more day to hear their name called. Olson found his way into the fourth round at No. 110 overall by the Miami Marlins. Kaminska was picked in the backend of the afternoon when the Colorado Rockies picked the Kansas native at No. 292 overall in the 10th round.

The selections of Matthews, Anderson and Olson is the first time in school history that three Huskers have been picked within the first four rounds. It’s also the fourth time in program history that four players have been drafted inside the first 10 rounds joining 2005, 2001 and 1985.

Regarding Matthews and Anderson, Nebraska became the first school since 2015 to have its middle infield duo get drafted in the top two rounds.

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Unsurprisingly, Matthews and Anderson had two of the best individual seasons in program history.

Anderson hit a team-high 21 home runs with a .414 average and 1.231 OPS, and he racked up 101 hits, 70 RBI and a .770 slugging percentage. He cracked several of the Huskers’ top-10 list for the program’s best numbers in a single season: His 101 hits are sixth on the list, his 21 home runs put him in a four-way tie for fifth, his 43 extra-base hits are tied for fifth, his total bases (188) is fourth, his slugging percentage is seventh, and his average finished just outside the top 10.

Matthews became the first player in school history to hit 20 home runs and record 20 stolen bases, and he became just the seventh player to achieve those marks since at least 2011. He’s in a tie for eighth in single-season home runs (20).

“It’s crazy to see the jump that I made,” Matthews said after being selected. “I always thought I had the capability of doing what I did was just a matter of putting all the pieces together. I definitely wouldn’t be here without my support system and my friends and family. They’ve been the backbone for me and just helping me take the stress off myself and not making it more than what is should be. I think that was the most important thing to help my growth and where I’m at today. I’m not taking the game, especially as serious as I used to. I take it as like life and death. Now, it’s just a game. It’s what I do, it’s not who I am. Having an identity outside of the game and trying to be the best person I can to everybody around the world and in my community and that are with me every day. That’s helped me become the player I am.”

Matthews is Nebraska’s highest overall selection since 2005, when third baseman Alex Gordon was chosen No. 2 overall by the Kansas City Royals. Matthews is NU’s first 1st-round selection since 2006, when right-handed pitcher Joba Chamberlain was the No. 41 overall selection by the New York Yankees.

Matthews, a product of Humble, Texas, is the seventh Husker to be selected by the Astros in the draft. The NU junior was a Dick Howser Trophy semifinalist and second-team All-American by the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association (NCBWA) after batting .359 with 11 doubles, two triples, 20 home runs, 67 RBI and 61 runs scored in 2023.

Olson had to wait until day two to be selected as he was picked up by the Miami Marlins at No. 110 overall in the fourth round Monday afternoon. The slot value for Olson’s selection at No. 110 is at $609,600.

Olson was the Friday night starter for the Huskers this past spring as he finished his junior season with a 6-3 record and a 4.50 ERA in 82 innings with 80 strikeouts and 30 walks. Olson joined Matthews and Anderson in outperforming their original draft projection as Olson was listed as the No. 228 overall prospect in the draft.

Kaminska accomplished his goal in getting drafted after transferring to Lincoln from Wichita State. Forming a fearsome duo with Olson in the weekend rotation, Kaminska led the team with a 7-3 record and totaling a 4.13 ERA in 72 innings pitched with 57 strikeouts compared to 15 walks.

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