Hometown Rankin - June & July 2017

It certainly felt like Matt Withrow’s
best day when he was drafted by the
Atlanta Braves as a pitcher in the 6th
round in 2015. Since baseball had become
a major part of his life while growing up
in Odessa, Texas, it was like waking up
from a dream and seeing it was reality.
In the oil field town of Odessa, there
wasn’t much extra-curricular to enjoy
– other than sports. Matt, with his two
older brothers, spent free time in athletics
along with seasonal hunting and fishing.
Matt played his first baseball in the
9th grade, but in a short time the pitching
mound became his favorite spot on the
field. He credits his dad, who played with
the Chicago White Sox, and older brothers
with part of his baseball success. Some
really good coaches, one that played with
the Yankees, are others that taught him
basic skills and command on the pitching
mound. One brother presently plays with
the Kansas City Royals.
Texas Tech University in Lubbock,
Texas, was where he pursued his college
education and baseball dream. He also
renewed his friendship with Kristin, a
young lady he had known since elementary
school. “She didn’t like me then,” he says
with a laugh, but times change and so did
their relationship. They were married in
November of 2016 and live with their host
family, the Wilsons, in Clinton, Mississippi.
The 6’5” pitcher starts every fifth day
of the Braves’ schedule. The conditioning,
practices and weight room fill Matt’s
days before and after all ballgames. It’s
a demanding schedule with only two
off-days a month.
One baseball report said of Matt:
“Withrow’s attitude on the mound is
notable and a definite positive.” A scouting
report describes Matt this way: “Withrow’s
listed at 6’5” and 235 pounds, and he looks
that, for sure. He strikes an imposing pose
on the mound, pulling his cap over his
brow to give the hitter no real view of his
eyes as he focuses on the plate.”
Matt says that he’s learned to block
out fan noise when he’s pitching. It’s a key
part of focus that his dad taught him.
For Rankin fans of the Mississippi
Braves, here’s a bit of trivia about Withrow,
#40. Roger Clemens is his favorite, all-time
baseball player, and if you consider
wearing the same shirt for every game a
superstition, Matt has at least one game
superstition.
Matt continues to play hard and
perfect his pitching skills. All the workouts,
pre-game and practice drills are the hard
parts to playing professional baseball,
according to this pitcher. He chooses not
to focus on the “what ifs” associated with
his future in baseball but enjoy the dream
of being on the pitching roster. Matt says,
“When you’re on the mound, that’s your
best day!”
Hometown Rankin • 85