Air Force discovers another gem in Malakye

Whomever is accountable for discovering late-blooming high college baseball prospects in Southern California for the Air Force Academy deserves a raise.

It was six years in the past when Air Force took away a 6-foot-7 pitcher/catcher named Paul Skenes from El Toro High. Last season Skenes gained the National League Cy Young Award.

This season, Air Force has discovered another tall, promising prospect in 6-5 Malakye Matsumoto from Sherman Oaks Notre Dame High. As a freshman he performed on the freshman staff. As a sophomore, he was on junior varsity. He pitched just three innings last season on varsity. This season, with a fastball that has touched 94 mph, he’s turn into a key nearer for the Knights (14-1). He’s also hitting .385 with two home runs, the first of his profession.

Yes, Matsumoto is nicely conscious of Skenes’ journey and impressed by it.

“That’s the route. That’s the goal,” he said.

Matsumoto said Air Force began figuring out him as a junior and noticed him carry out during a journey ball match. Selling him on Air Force was not troublesome because of his household expertise. His father and grandfather had been in the Air Force and his uncle was in the Army. He has a 4.3 grade-point average.

“My dad told me everything about the Air Force,” he said. “Teaching me discipline, making me a better man and setting me up for life.”

Patience and trusting the method have been Matsumoto’s two guiding rules.

He appreciated spending his first two years getting to play on lower-level groups with no strain of immediately taking part in on varsity while ready for his physique to mature.

“The biggest thing was it helped me build up my confidence,” he said. “I got to play shortstop the whole year, batted third. It helped me build a foundation. I started to grow, get stronger and become more comfortable.”

He had no downside “staying in the background.”

“Nobody really knew about me,” he said. “It allowed me to have more fun while playing the game. I didn’t feel pressure at the plate playing JV baseball.”

But the coaches knew about Matsumoto’s potential as they noticed him grow from 5-10 to 6-5. Strength coach Nick Garcia said Matsumoto never missed a workout in the weight room. He performed second base, third base and shortstop as a junior on varsity. He received in briefly on the mound. It all set up for him to show what may do as a senior.

“We always knew he would develop and be a big impact player down the road,” co-coach Nick LaFace said. “Last year his defense needed to get better, he worked at it and has been playing an amazing third base. He definitely has a big-time arm.”

There’s many different methods to fulfill baseball potential. Some stop growing after Little League stardom. Others are prepared to play on varsity as freshmen because of their bodily and mental prowess. Matsumoto reminds mother and father to not be so fast about lobbying for quick varsity taking part in time.

“They don’t understand it puts a lot of pressure on kids,” he said. “I’ve seen it. They get called up immediately freshman year. All the pressure is put on their shoulders. Parents want them to be on varsity not realizing they either won’t play or when they are exposed to high-level pitching, high-level hitting, being that young, unless they are really a varsity-level player, they’re going to get exposed or it’s either going to be humiliating or lower the confidence.”

Matsumoto’s mom is of Korean descent and is principal at Hawthorne Math and Science Academy. His father is of Japanese descent and works in security.

As for the Air Force, don’t count on Matsumoto to be flying anytime soon.

“They told me I won’t be able to fit in some planes being 6-5,” he said.

Don’t fear. They had the same reply for the 6-7 Skenes, who turned out fairly good.

Skenes left Air Force after two years, but Matsumoto likes what he sees in his journey.

“It sets me up for life,” he said.

But issues change, and beware of Matsumoto, the pitcher. He’s just studying what he can do.

“Pitching has become more of a reality,” he said. “I’m totally open to it in college. I’m going as a two-way player.”