Matt Rambo had jitters early, saw 5 seasons, AA, injury

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Matt Rambo 1991 Osceola Astros baseball card

During his first big practice as a professional in 1987, Matt Rambo pitched for the club's special instructor at Utica, showing what he could do, not through speed, but through pitching, The Philadelphia Daily News wrote.

"I did have some jitters out there," Rambo told The Daily News for a feature on the Phillies minor league club. "I have dreamed of being a pro pitcher for as long as I can remember. I would have signed out of high school if some team had wanted me then."

As it stood, Rambo gained enough notice in college to be taken in the second round of the 1987 draft. He went on from there to see time in five seasons. He topped out at AA.

Rambo's career began that year in 1987, taken by the Astros 52nd overall out of Richland College in Texas.

Rambo started with the Phillies at short-season Utica. He saw 13 starts and went 4-4, with a 3.74 ERA.

He then moved to single-A Spartanburg for 1988 and went 12-10, with a 3.73 ERA. For 1989, he saw Spartanburg and single-A Clearwater and ended with a 4.94 ERA in 23 outings, 19 starts.

For 1990, he moved to the Astros system and high-A Osceola. He had a 3.09 ERA in 25 outings, 15 starts with a 5-8 record.

That July, he told The Orlando Sentinel that he'd gained confidence with his pitches.

"I'm as confident throwing a slider, curve and changeup as I am with a fastball," Rambo told The Sentinel. "I'm throwing strikes and feel I can throw any pitch in any situation. That's what has turned me around."

He then lost 1991 to injury and arm surgery. But he returned for 1992 and started at AA Jackson. He started strong. He struck out 14 over his first 11 innings. 

In one late-April game, he set down 24 of 26 batters he faced, the other two, though, were home runs, The Jackson Clarion-Ledger wrote. His manager called his outing "outstanding," despite the team losing the game.

He pitched into the seventh of his next outing, but took himself out of the game when his elbow felt off, The Clarion-Ledger wrote. His season then ended with five starts, and a 2.16 ERA, ending his career.

Matt Rambo 1991 Osceola Astros baseball card


1990 Minor League Tally 
Players/Coaches Featured:4,550
Made the Majors:1,435-31.5%
Never Made Majors:3,115-68.5%-X
5+ Seasons in the Majors:582
10+ Seasons in the Minors:359

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