Julius Matos

Played two seasons of college baseball at South Suburban (IL) Junior College... Hit .389 with eight home runs and 53 RBI in his final season... Was named All-Region, All-District and second team All-American Division 1 Junior College honours... Still holds the school's career record with 10 triples... Graduated from William Horlick (WI) High School.

2004

Began the season with Edmonton (AAA) of the Pacific Coast League in the Montreal Expos organization... Batted .287 (48-167) with two home runs and 22 RBI in 49 games with Edmonton... Was traded to the Toronto Blue Jays in exchange for minor league INF Gregg Raymundo on June 16... Was then assigned to Syracuse (AAA) of the International League and made his debut on June 17... Hit his first home run with the SkyChiefs on June 26 at Indianapolis... Had a five-game hit streak from July 9-15 where he hit .571 (12-21) while knocking in five runs, scored six times, hit two doubles and slammed one home run... Overall with Syracuse, owned a .293 batting average with seven home runs and 42 RBI in 73 games... Had his best offensive month in July where he batted .328 (38-116) with three home runs and 18 RBI in 28 games.

2003

Matos batted .263 with 2 home runs and 7 RBI in 28 games for the Royals...began the season with AAAOmaha and had posted a .292 average with 17 doubles, 6 home runs and 41 RBI when his contract was selected on July 3...made his KC debut as the starting third baseman vs. Detroit on July 5...went 1-for-4 with 2 RBI...matched his careerhigh 3 hits and also hit his first home run as a Royal at Texas on July 13 in a 8-2 win...the homer was just the third of his career and the first since June 30, 2002 against Kansas City as a member of the Padres...singled with one out in the 10th inning vs. Seattle on July 20 before Carlos Beltran ended the game with a walk-off home run for a 7-5 win...optioned to Omaha on July 21...was recalled on August 5 after Michael Tucker broke his right tibia...hit his second homer on August 10 at Tampa Bay and finished with a season-high 3 RBI in a 7-3 win...ended Esteban Loaiza's no-hit bid with a 2-out double in the 7th inning of Chicago's 5-1 win at Kauffman Stadium on September 28.