Matt Halbach: Seeking Out the Next Challenge
The crowd echoes through Pelicans Ballpark as Matt Halbach settles into the batter’s box, his 6-foot-2 frame poised to do damage. At 22, the Chicago Cubs’ 2024 10th-round draft pick is a corner infielder for the Myrtle Beach Pelicans, a team charging through the 2025 Carolina League season with playoff aspirations.
Hailing from Los Gatos, California, Halbach’s journey to the Pelicans is a story of resilience, from a high school career disrupted by COVID to a college path at UC San Diego marked by injury, culminating in a breakout professional debut. The Pelicans’ 2025 success, driven by newfound team chemistry, mirrors Halbach’s own ability to turn challenges into triumphs, living up to his mantra of doing his best in every moment.
Halbach’s love for baseball took root in San Diego’s sun-soaked fields. “I just remember, in Little League, just always going to the field with my dad to hit,” he shared. “Whenever we had free time, it was like, Okay, let’s go to the field and take BP… that’s kind of where the love started from.” His father, who played through high school, recognized Matt’s passion early, fostering a mentality of constant improvement. “I had that mentality of, like, getting better every single day, and… fall in love with the process,” Halbach said.
Inspired by Bryce Harper’s electric energy, Matt plastered a giant sticker of the former Nationals star on his bedroom wall, dreaming of emulating his fire, per the podcast.
At Archbishop Mitty High School, Halbach’s talent emerged, though he wasn’t an instant star. “I wasn’t, like, an amazing player when I first got to high school… I was skinny, my body wasn’t there,” he admitted.
A freshman on the JV team, he also played basketball, a sport he loved but knew wasn’t his future. By his junior year, he hit his stride on varsity, only for COVID to limit the season to five games. His senior year, despite restrictions, saw his team win their division, with Halbach in center field, per the podcast. His performance caught the eye of UC San Diego, a Division I program. “I was fortunate enough to get into contact with the coaches at UCSD… they took a shot on me,” he said, grateful for the opportunity,
At UCSD, Halbach majored in economics and flashed potential, hitting .311 with 12 home runs and 82 RBIs over three seasons, per Baseball-Reference. His 2023 summer in the Cape Cod League, where he hit .301 with a .401 OBP, showcased his bat-to-ball skills, but a junior-year injury derailed his draft stock, dropping him from a projected fifth-round pick to the 10th round in 2024. “I felt like I was ready for the next level of baseball,” he told Luke Moehle, opting to sign with the Cubs over transferring for a senior year. “Once I got drafted, I knew I wanted to do it”. His $180,000 signing bonus, per MLB.com, launched him into pro ball with the Pelicans.
Halbach’s 2025 debut was electric. On Opening Night in Charleston, he went 3-for-5 with a home run, overcoming two early strikeouts. “It was cool to get the three hits, but… even cooler to know you can start a game out with two strikeouts… and you can always finish strong,” he reflected.
By June, he had six home runs and was among the team’s leaders in numerous offensive categories. His situational hitting stands out. “I take pride in… being someone that knows what the team needs… and can execute that,” he said, whether it’s working a walk or driving in a run with a double.
The Pelicans’ 2025 season mirrors Halbach’s resilience. After a first half marked by close losses, they’ve surged in the second half, leading the Carolina League South Division.
“In the first half… the chemistry wasn’t quite there,” Halbach explained. “As the season goes on, we’ve gotten a lot closer. That chemistry creates a sense that together we can always come back”. The team’s bond, bridging Latin and American players, has fueled historic moments: Alexey Lumpuy’s cycle on July 10, the first since 1999, and a nine-inning no-hitter on July 18, the fifth in franchise history. “I’ve never seen a cycle before… it’s really special,” Halbach said, celebrating teammates’ hard work paying off.
Off the field, Halbach’s routine reflects his discipline. “I like to put on my clothes a very certain way… sliders, left sock, right sock, pants, left shoe, right shoe,” he shared, a pregame ritual that steadies him. He savors Cook Out burgers on off days and raves about Hook and Barrel’s seafood in Myrtle Beach. On road trips, he prefers the front of the bus, headphones in, catching rest before games.
Not ranked in the top 30 in the Cubs’ system by MLB Pipeline, Halbach’s versatility—playing third and first base—and power potential signal a bright future. “He could be a fast riser,” wrote CubsHQ.com, citing his plate discipline and .420 OBP in June. As the Pelicans chase a playoff berth under first year manager Yovanny Cuevas, Halbach embodies their never-give-up spirit. From San Diego’s fields to Pelicans Ballpark’s roaring crowds, he’s doing his best, one swing at a time and one challenge at a time to reach his goals of playing at Wrigley Field as a Chicago Cub.
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