GREENSBORO, N.C. – Matt Frisbee is one step closer to the show.
After being named Double-A Northeast Pitcher of the Week for the Richmond Flying Squirrels last month, the former UNC Greensboro (UNCG) right-handed pitcher was recently promoted to Triple-A Sacramento, an affiliate of the San Francisco Giants, a squad currently with the best record in the National League.
Frisbee, who was drafted in the 15th round by the San Francisco Giants in 2018, has been remarkably efficient this season. The Giants value strikeout-to-walk ratios for both pitchers and hitters and no one in the farm system has demonstrated as much control as Frisbee, who had 38 strikeouts with just one walk in six Double-A starts.
Overall, between Sacramento and Richmond, Frisbee is 5-1 with a 1.85 earned run average after winning his first Triple-A start against Reno on Sunday, June 6. He allowed five runs (three earned) in five innings. Frisbee struck out six batters in the game.
He was named the Double-A Northeast Pitcher of the Month for May, Minor League Baseball announced on June 2.
Frisbee went 4-1 with a 1.24 ERA over five starts in May. For the month, he led all of MiLB in WHIP (0.41), ranked second in BAA (.112) and second in innings pitched (29.0). He also ranked fourth in Double-A in ERA (1.24), tied for first in wins (four) and led the level in innings pitched, BAA and WHIP.
In the Double-A Northeast, Frisbee led the circuit in ERA, wins, inning pitched, BAA and WHIP. He also ranked seventh in strikeouts (32) and ninth in winning percentage (.800).
In his final start for Richmond at Reading on Sunday, May 30, Frisbee, closed out the month setting a season high in innings pitched (7.0) and strikeouts (eight). After allowing a single in the first inning, Frisbee retired the next 21 batters in order to earn his fourth win.
One of his most memorable starts this season was when he pitched the first six innings in a combined no-hitter at Harrisburg. It was the first nine-inning no-hitter in team history. He earned Pitcher of the Week honors following that performance.
In his six innings, Frisbee struck out six Senators hitters and did not allow a baserunner before turning the game over to the bullpen in the seventh. Joey Marciano, Matt Seelinger and Patrick Ruotolo combined to cover the final three innings of the game.
Frisbee, a native of Asheville, N.C., shined in his first Double-A season. Along with five scoreless innings in his season debut against Hartford on May 8, Frisbee threw 11.0 scoreless innings over his first two appearances this season, allowing just two hits with no walks and 11 strikeouts.
After Frisbee was drafted out of UNC Greensboro, the Giants had him pitch out of relief in 2018 at short-season Salem-Keizer, possibly because of his college workload. He switched back to his preferred starting in '19, though, at High-A San Jose and improved as the season went on. In his last 10 games, he posted a 1.64 ERA while opponents batted .220 against him. For the season, the ERA was 3.64 with a strikeout:walk ratio the Giants enjoy: 131:22 in 116 1/3 innings.
Frisbee left his mark at UNCG by being named the Southern Conference Pitcher of the Year and earning First Team All-Southern Conference honors. He was tied with Patrick Currin for fifth all-time with 10 wins and led the Spartans with 91.1 innings pitched.
He was the fifth pitcher in UNCG history to record over 100 strikeouts during the season, with his 116 strikeouts, ranking as the second-best single season total. He was 25th in the nation in strikeouts. Frisbee had a season-high 13 strikeouts against Lipscomb in a complete-game victory. He also struck out 13 ETSU hitters. UNCG was 12-3 in games Frisbee took the hill and outscored opponents 113-58.
His next start will be this weekend against Tacoma.
