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Matt den Dekker
From BR Bullpen
Matthew den Dekker
- Bats Left, Throws Left
- Height 6' 0", Weight 205 lb.
- High School Westminster Academy Christian School
- School University of Florida
- Born August 10, 1987 in Fort Lauderdale, FL USA
Outfielder Matt den Dekker began his pro career in the New York Mets organization in 2010.
Den Dekker was a second-team All-State pick in high school in 2006 after hitting .455 with 7 home runs. As a freshman at the University of Florida, he batted .234/~.324/.418. Matt was much better as a sophomore, hitting .333/~.413/.507 with 20 steals in 20 tries and 55 runs in 55 games. The center fielder was a first-team All-Southeastern Conference pick in the outfield. Den Dekker was then chosen for Team USA's college edition. He batted .176/.375/.176 in the 2008 Haarlem Baseball Week; noted for his defense, he made one error and noted for his speed, he was thrown out in his lone attempt (gunned down by Cuban defensive legend Ariel Pestano in the Gold Medal game). Den Dekker batted .227/.292/.409 in the 2008 World University Championship and did not attempt a steal. In the Gold Medal game, he almost drove in the winner, singling in the 12th, but Tommy Mendonca was gunned down at home by Keijiro Matsumoto.
Matt's stock fell drastically as a junior, when he hit .296/.409/.412 with 17 steals in 18 tries. He was still rated 92nd overall by Baseball America among prospects entering the 2009 amateur draft - then was not selected until the 475th overall pick, when the Pittsburgh Pirates snatched him in the 16th round. He returned to Florida for his senior year, hitting .358 with a team-leading 64 runs scored and a career-best 49 RBI as his school reached the 2010 College World Series.
After college, den Dekker was selected by the New York Mets in the fifth round of the 2010 amateur draft. He made his pro debut that summer with the GCL Mets, hitting .278 with 5 RBI in 5 games before being promoted to the Savannah Sand Gnats.
