JJ Matijevic is leaping and hip-bumping teammates, smiling and chomping on wads of gum as he revels in one of the hottest streaks of his professional baseball career.
He looks like a kid enjoying the game again.
Matijevic, a corner infielder and outfielder for the Corpus Christi Hooks, the Double-A affiliate of the Houston Astros, has been on a tear since returning from a 50-game suspension for failing a drug of abuse test for a second time.
As a result, the former Norwin star was recognized by being named to MLB Pipeline’s Prospect Team of the Week.
The 23-year-old who played college baseball at Arizona was suspended in April and came back in late June. Since, he is hitting .276, with nine homers and 20 RBIs.
Four of his six hits last week (.429) went for extra bases, including three homers, and he drove in seven — thus, his spot on the Pipeline team.
In 55 minor league games this season, he is batting .263 with 11 homers and 29 RBIs. He played five games with the Class A-Advanced Fayetteville Woodpeckers.
Matijevic has 40 homers and 122 RBIs in 215 career minor league games.
Enjoying the hottest extended stretch of his pro career for the @cchooks, #Astros No. 18 prospect J.J. Matijevic makes our Prospect Team of the Week. https://t.co/3duCtHRt61 pic.twitter.com/nyrki9o6Lv
— MLB Pipeline (@MLBPipeline) August 5, 2019
Prospect Team of the Week: https://t.co/3duCtHzRHr
— MLB Pipeline (@MLBPipeline) August 5, 2019
? #WhiteSox' Gonzalez & Walker
? #SFGiants' Canario & Corry
? #Dodgers' Rios & Cartaya
? #Rockies' Vilade
? #Marlins' Diaz
? #Astros' Matijevic
? #STLCards' Elledge
? #Padres' Patino pic.twitter.com/rkb9KbD5hS
?You underestimated greatly
— Corpus Christi Hooks (@cchooks) August 4, 2019
Three homers this series how long did it really take me??@TweetinJ_23 is on FIRE! A three-run blast for his ninth of the season! pic.twitter.com/AEq4AiPDkU
Insurance!@TweetinJ_23 is having himself one heckuva series! pic.twitter.com/X6njMZtBi7
— Corpus Christi Hooks (@cchooks) August 4, 2019
