The WSU baseball team announced Thursday the signing of redshirt freshman outfielder Matthew Priest to their squad. The San Diego native committed to the University of Southern California for his freshman year, but did not see the field all season.
In Priest’s senior of high school, through 12 games played on varsity, he batted 0.281 with nine hits and seven RBIs. He also launched two homers that year, with three others the year before, giving him a total of five long balls in his high school career.
According to Perfect Game, Priest was ranked No. 134 overall in the nation and No. 24 nationally among outfielders in 2023. Shrink that sample size down to just California, and you get No. 3 for outfielders and No. 15 overall.
The 6-foot-1 and 205-pound righty is also incredibly fast for his size. That speed comes in part from his tenure on his high school track team, where he recorded a 10.94-second 100-meter dash, as well as a 23.16-second 200-meter dash. Although he did not compete in college, his time in track and field helped develop a speedy athlete that will undoubtedly be a threat on the basepaths.
In the wake of Logan Johnstone transferring to Vanderbilt University, Priest serves as a young replacement in the outfield with room to develop. His hitting, speed and defensive play all make him a top tier pick-up for a Cougar squad looking to compete in the Mountain West next year.
