Cole Mathis: Finding His Spot
In the humid air of Charleston, South Carolina, Cole Mathis stood at a crossroads. A 6-foot-1, 210-pound force on the diamond, he was both a flame-throwing pitcher and a power-hitting infielder for the College of Charleston Cougars. His fastball had touched 96 mph, his bat had launched 11 home runs in a single Cape Cod League summer season, and his future seemed boundless. But as his junior year wound down in 2024, an elbow injury forced a choice: undergo Tommy John surgery and begin the long road to recovery or focus on hitting. Mathis chose the bat, a decision that would lead him to the Chicago Cubs organization, a $1.6 million signing bonus, and a new home with the Myrtle Beach Pelicans in 2025.
Mathis, a Cataula, Georgia native, grew up idolizing players like Chipper Jones, dreaming of big-league glory. His father, Sammie Mathis, a former minor leaguer, was his first coach, instilling a love for the game and a relentless work ethic. That foundation carried Mathis to Harris County High School, where he starred as a two-way player, catching the eye of college scouts.
“I primarily played third in high school, but at Charleston they had me at first to save my arm for the mound”, Mathis said. “That was a big reason why I decided to choose them, to be able to do both.”
At the College of Charleston, Mathis became a sensation. In 2023, he led the Cougars in nearly every offensive category—batting .330 with 20 doubles, 51 RBIs, and a 1.014 OPS—while posting a team-best 3.45 ERA on the mound. His performance earned him All-CAA Second Team honors and a spot on the NCBWA All-America Second Team as a two-way player. That summer, he dominated the prestigious Cape Cod League, smacking 11 homers and hitting .318 over 38 games. Scouts took notice. “His baseball card numbers are obviously impressive,” Dan Kantrovitz, the Cubs' vice president of scouting said in an interview with MLB.com. “When you dig deeper, his chase rates, his in-zone contact rates, his exit velocities, his ability to just really hit the ball hard and in the air really stood out.”
But 2024 brought challenges. A sore elbow sidelined Mathis from pitching, and he started the season slowly at the plate. Undeterred, he adjusted, finishing with a .335 average, 14 home runs, and a 1.122 OPS. His plate discipline shone—46 walks against just 32 strikeouts in 52 games—making him a “college data darling,” as one analyst put it.
On draft night, Mathis was surrounded by high school friends, former teammates and his family. He felt confident that he wouldn’t have to wait too long to hear his name called, but the angst of the moment could be felt in the air. Cole did not know exactly when or who would call his name, but as the night went on he found more clarity.
“The Blue Jays called me and basically told me that if I was there, they were going to call my name in the late 50’s”, Mathis explained. “Right around pick 50, my phone rang and it was the Cubs saying that 54 would be the spot.”
The Cubs, enamored with his offensive upside, selected him 54th overall in the second round of the 2024 MLB Draft, the highest draft pick in Charleston history.
The transition to pro ball wasn’t seamless. Days after signing for $1,681,200, Mathis underwent Tommy John surgery in August 2024, a procedure that delayed his debut and raised questions about his future. Would he ever pitch again? The Cubs, for their part, were clear: they saw him as a hitter, likely at first or third base, with the potential to try the outfield. “We’re focused on his bat,” Kantrovitz said. “His chase rates, in-zone contact, and ability to hit the ball hard in the air are special.”
Rehab was grueling. Mathis spent months in Arizona, working through the monotony of post-surgery recovery. Eyeing his professional debut, it was his family that he leaned on for strength to make the recovery. His father’s minor-league experiences paired with his wife Mallory and their tight-knit family kept him grounded.
By spring 2025, Mathis was cleared to hit, and he joined the Pelicans, the Cubs’ Single-A affiliate, for his pro debut. On April 17, 2025, he made headlines, crushing his first professional home run with family in attendance at SRP Park in Augusta against the Braves affiliated GreenJackets. Not only would he notch his first career homer, the night would go down as his first multi-home run game as he belted a three-run shot to bring his RBI total to five in the 11-6 win.
Mathis’s journey to Myrtle Beach is a testament to his resilience. The elbow injury, the surgery, the uncertainty of transitioning from a two-way college star to a pro hitter—it’s a lot for a 21-year-old to carry. Yet, he remains unfazed, his mindset shaped by years of grinding on small-town ball fields and his experiences in collegiate baseball.
On the field, Mathis is a study in contrasts: a hulking figure with a cannon arm, yet a disciplined hitter who rarely chases. Off the field, he’s a newlywed, balancing baseball with life’s bigger moments. His defensive future is uncertain—third base is the goal, but first base or the outfield may beckon if his glove doesn’t keep pace. Still, the Cubs are betting on his bat, and early returns suggest they’re right.
Preparing to conclude his first homestand as a professional athlete, Mathis took swings on the field prior to facing the Brewers affiliated Carolina MudCats, his focus unshaken by the long road ahead. For now, he’s a Pelican, a kid from Georgia chasing a dream one swing at a time. But watch closely—Cole Mathis might just mash his way to Wrigley Field.
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