Matt Downs

Matthew Russell Downs Sr. (born March 19, 1984) is an American former Major League Baseball infielder.

He stands 6 ft tall and weighs 190 lb. Previously, he had played for the San Francisco Giants and the Houston Astros.

He bats and throws right-handed.

Downs graduated from Bibb County High School in Centreville, Alabama, following which he played a year as a pitcher/infielder for Shelton State Community College in 2003.

For the next three years, he played college baseball at the University of Alabama.

He was drafted in the 25th round by the Pittsburgh Pirates in the 2003 MLB June Amateur Draft, while he still played for Shelton State Community College.

He was used mostly as a pitcher in 2004 and 2005, posting a 2–1 record and a 4.91 earned run average (ERA).

Downs attended Shelton State Community College and the University of Alabama; he was drafted out of Alabama by the San Francisco Giants in 2006.

In 2006, used only as a batter, he batted .298 with seven home runs and 62 runs batted in (RBI).

Downs helped Alabama win the Southeastern Conference Championship in 2006, earning a Player of the Week Award in May after his strong hitting against the University of Tennessee helped Alabama clinch the championship.

In 2006, the San Francisco Giants drafted him in the 36th round out of Alabama.

He played in 2006 for the Arizona League Giants of the rookie Arizona League, batting .310 with 34 runs scored, 52 hits, 16 doubles (second in the league behind John Alonso's 17), zero home runs, and 29 RBI.

Downs played in 2007 for the Salem-Keizer Volcanoes of the Single-A (short season) Northwest League.

In 73 games (tied with Garrett Baker and Helder Velazquez for second in the league behind Darin Holcomb), he hit eight home runs and had 48 RBI.

He led the league in runs scored (68) and doubles (33); he finished second to Luis Durango in batting average (.338) and hits (97).

He was named the Northwest League co-MVP in 2007 while playing for the Volcanoes; aided by his contributions, the Volcanoes won the Northwest League championship.

In 2008, Downs played for the Giants' Single-A San Jose Giants of the California League.

In 109 games, he batted .304 with 74 runs scored, 133 hits, 30 doubles, 17 home runs, and 75 RBI.

After the season, he was named to the California League All-Star team.

From June 23 through July 18, he played for the Triple-A Fresno Grizzlies of the Pacific Coast League.

In 22 games with Fresno, he batted .244 with 10 runs scored, 21 hits, five doubles, three home runs, and seven RBI.

Despite being a 36th round draft pick, Downs reached the major leagues in 2009, starting at second base temporarily for the Giants during the season.

In 2009, Downs attended spring training with the Giants, but he began the season at Fresno.

On June 16, Downs was called up to the Giants, replacing Emmanuel Burriss as the Giants' second baseman.

On June 17, he recorded his first two major league hits against Matt Palmer in a 4–3 loss to the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim.

On June 28, he hit his first home run (against Jeff Suppan) in a 7–0 victory over the Milwaukee Brewers.

He was optioned back to Triple-A July 3 after batting .194, but he was recalled again on July 21 after Juan Uribe (his replacement at second base) struggled.

Downs started five games in a row at second on this stint; after recording two hits in 17 at-bats, he was returned to Fresno where he finished the season.

In 109 games with Fresno, Downs batted .300 with 68 runs scored, 127 hits, 33 doubles, 14 home runs, and 74 RBI.

He played a few games with them in 2010 before he was claimed off waivers by the Houston Astros in August.

Downs attended spring training with the Giants again in 2010 but began the season in Fresno.

On April 17, he was called up to be a reserve player after Aaron Rowand was injured.

At the beginning of May, he became the Giants' everyday second baseman when Uribe was moved to shortstop to replace the injured Édgar Rentería.

Downs batted .264 with five RBI in 15 games as the Giants' second baseman, but on May 19, he returned to a utility role as Freddy Sanchez was activated from the disabled list.

He was sent to Fresno on May 27 to make room for Waldis Joaquín on the roster.

Downs spent the entire 2011 season in the major leagues, batting .276 and leading the major leagues with 15 pinch-hit RBI.

In 2012, his average dropped to .202.

Following the season, the Astros made him a free agent.

He signed a minor league contract with the Miami Marlins in 2013, spending the season in the minor leagues before getting released.

Currently, Downs is the head coach of Marion Military Institute baseball team.