Matt Chapman

Matt James Chapman (born April 28, 1993) is an American professional baseball third baseman for the Oakland Athletics of Major League Baseball (MLB). In both 2018 and 2019 he won the Platinum Glove Award, Fielding Bible Award, and Gold Glove Award, while also winning the Wilson Defensive Player of the Year Award in 2018. Additionally, he was an All-Star for the first time in 2019.

Chapman attended El Toro High School in Lake Forest, California. In 2011, as a senior, he had a .422 batting average. Undrafted out of high school in the 2011 MLB draft, he enrolled at California State University, Fullerton where he played college baseball for the Cal State Fullerton Titans. In 2014, his junior year, he slashed .312/.412/.498 with six home runs and 48 RBIs in 54 games. After the season, the Oakland Athletics selected Chapman in the first round of the 2014 MLB draft.

After signing, he made his professional debut with the Rookie-level Arizona League Athletics. He was promoted to the Class-A Beloit Snappers after three games. In 50 games for Beloit, he batted .237 with five home runs and 20 RBIs. He also played in one game for the Double-A Midland RockHounds at the end of the season. His entire 2015 season was spent with the Class A-Advanced Stockton Ports where he batted .250 with 23 home runs and 57 RBIs in 80 games. Chapman was invited to major league Spring Training with the Athletics in 2016. He began the season with Midland, and after slashing .244/.335/.521 with 29 home runs and 83 RBIs in 117 games, was promoted to the Triple-A Nashville Sounds in August, where he finished the season batting .197 with seven home runs and 13 RBIs in 18 games. He was selected as the Texas League Player of the Year for 2016. Chapman started the 2017 season playing for Nashville. He suffered a wrist injury on a check swing in the first series of the season and spent two weeks on the disabled list.

Oakland Athletics

Chapman was promoted to the Athletics on June 15, 2017, to make his major league debut that night. In 49 games for Nashville prior to his promotion, he was batting .257 with 16 home runs and 30 RBIs. On June 16, Chapman had his first major league hit and collected 3 RBIs (including the go-ahead run) against the New York Yankees. On September 6, Chapman was thrown out of a game by umpire Mike Everitt for arguing with Los Angeles Angels catcher Juan Graterol. Chapman took exception to Graterol staring at the Oakland batters, and Graterol felt that the Athletics were trying to steal signs. He spent the remainder of the season with Oakland after his June 15 call-up, batting .234 with 14 home runs and 40 RBIs in 84 games.

Chapman was placed on the disabled list on June 16, 2018 with a bruised right thumb and activated on July 3. Chapman finished his 2018 campaign batting .278 with 24 home runs and 68 RBIs, offering solid baserunning and excellent defense as well. He underwent ulnar sided sesamoid bone excision surgery on the thumb on October 16 in Los Angeles. On October 29, Chapman received a Fielding Bible Award. On November 4, Chapman received a Rawlings Gold Glove Award as well as winning the Rawlings Platinum Glove Awardwith his former high school teammate Nolan Arenado. He also won the fan vote for the Platinum Glove Award. On December 14, 2018, Chapman underwent left shoulder surgery. In 2019, Chapman excelled offensively, hitting 36 home runs with 91 RBI despite hitting .246 in 156 games.

Chapman has a reputation of being an elite defender who has exceptional range, arm strength and arm accuracy. His arm strength and a two-fingered four-seam fastball grip allows him to play at a deeper depth to field a hard hit ball heading down his right side. He uses a two handed gather on forehand, and one handed backhand with a basketball defensive crouch to prevent the ball from sailing.

His former El Toro High School teammate is fellow MLB third baseman, Nolan Arenado.

During the off-season, Chapman is roommates with Houston Astros catcher Garrett Stubbs in California.