PHOENIX -- There are few Giants prospects who raised their stock as much as Luis Matos last year.

Matos, a 20-year-old center fielder and right-handed hitter from Venezuela, emerged as a standout on a loaded Low-A San Jose roster in 2021, earning league MVP honors after batting .313/.358/.494 with 15 home runs, 86 RBIs and 21 stolen bases over 109 games. He struck out only 61 times over 451 at-bats, displaying the advanced approach that has turned him into one of the best pure hitters in the Giants’ organization.

Matos, who is ranked the Giants’ No. 3 prospect by MLB Pipeline, doesn’t walk much either, but that’s primarily because his elite bat-to-ball skills allow him to make contact with pretty much any pitch he decides to swing at. His bat -- along with his speed and solid defense in center field -- explains why he’s now widely viewed as one of San Francisco’s most promising prospects.

“For me, it was a great success,” Matos said of his 2021 campaign. “There were a lot of really talented players at that level, but for me, it was an honor [to be named Low-A West MVP]. I was really proud of myself and the job I did last season.”

Shortstop Marco Luciano was the headliner of the Giants’ highly touted 2018 international signing class after receiving a $2.6 million bonus, but Matos -- who signed for $725,000 -- is now beginning to turn heads as well.

“I think when you work hard, you’re going to see a lot of good things happen in your career,” Latin American development coordinator Hector Borg said. “I think that was the key for him. Work ethic, the way he took care of business. He’s a smart kid. I think that was special. I was very happy to see Matos play the way he did last year.”

Matos’ baseball bloodlines run deep, as his father and uncle both played professionally. He also has several cousins in pro ball, including former Giants outfielder Luis Alexander Basabe and Rays shortstop prospect Osleivis Basabe.

“It’s something that pushes me to keep working and achieve my goal of reaching the big leagues,” Matos said in Spanish.

Like Luciano, Matos isn’t expected to break into the Majors this year, but he could move quickly if he continues to refine his pitch selection, which he focused on improving this offseason. While he can handle virtually any offering, Matos is still trying to learn how to be more selective and wait for pitches he can drive.

“When I don’t expand the zone, I make solid contact more consistently,” Matos said. “Sometimes I can make contact, but it’s not the same as when I wait for good pitches to hit.”

Matos said his favorite players are Braves outfielder Ronald Acuña Jr. and Padres shortstop Fernando Tatis Jr., both of whom he admires because they’re “complete players” who can do everything well. Acuña and Tatis both debuted in the Majors at 20 years old and enjoyed a quick rise to stardom, a trajectory Matos hopes to follow in the near future.

“I’ve heard some comparisons to Acuña because I’ve also shown that I can hit for power, steal bases and play good defense,” Matos said. “But the goal is to one day be better than Acuña.”