Atascocita's Kendall George and Brice Matthews drafted in first round of 2023 MLB Draft.

Atascocita alums Brice Matthews drafted by Houston Astros; Kendall George taken by Dodgers in first round of 2023 MLB Draft

Joshua Koch

July 10, 2023

When Brice Matthews was nine-years-old he started playing baseball for the Houston Astros Urban Youth Academy, and Kendall George was six-years-old when his first baseball team he played for was the Dodgers. 

On Sunday night, during the first round of the 2023 MLB Draft, both Matthews and George saw their baseball journeys come full circle. 

With the 28th overall pick, Matthews was selected by his hometown Houston Astros and just eight picks later, George was taken by the Dodgers with the 36th overall selection. 

“It’s crazy, I never would have thought that,” Matthews said about being drafted by the Astros. “I wanted to play college baseball in the South around here and it didn't happen. But for me to have this opportunity now, it’s a lifetime opportunity and I’m going to take it and run with it.” 

George added: “It’s a dream come true, the Dodgers were the first team I ever played for at the age of six and getting picked by them last night was an unexplainable feeling. I'm just extremely grateful!” 

Both are the first-ever first round draft picks in the MLB Draft in Atascocita High School history. 

Matthews and George join Kenyon Green, who was taken 15th overall by the Houston Texans in the 2022 NFL Draft, as former Atascocita High School athletes to be drafted in the first round of a professional league draft. 

“I’m super excited to see both of these great young men chase their dreams and be great role models for others that dream to be where they are,” Humble ISD Assistant Athletic Director Eric Matthews, who coached both Matthews and George at Atascocita High School, said. 

Matthews and George plan on signing with their respective major league clubs. George, who just graduated high school, had committed to the University of Arkansas previously. 

In his senior year, George helped guide the Eagles to a 25-13-2 record. In 39 games played, George hit .445 with an OPS of 1.296, nine doubles, seven triples and three home runs and drove in 34 runs. George also stole a team-leading 32 bases. In the field in 107 total chances, George committed just one error, giving him 99% fielding percentage. 

“Kendall is a fantastic young man with tons of potential,” Eric said.  “I am so happy for him and his family that he has been given this amazing opportunity with the Dodgers. He has worked hard for this day.” 

Other notable recent draftees from Atascocita High School include Carsen Edwards, who was drafted 33rd overall by the Philadelphia 76ers and traded to Boston in the 2019 NBA Draft, while Sam Cosmi was taken with the 51st overall pick of the 2021 NFL Draft by the Washington Commanders. 

Matthews was a dual-sport star at Atascocita High School, fulfilling the role of starting quarterback for Craig Stump and the Eagles’ football team and then being Eric’s starting shortstop for the Eagles’ baseball team. 

“They were great, they let me be myself,” Matthews said of his high school coaches. “They never let me deviate from that. They just let me be free and have fun. Just doing things I loved to do. They helped me become a better person and player for sure.” 

In his senior year, Matthews passed for more than 1,500 yards and led the Eagles to a 12-2 overall record, reaching the State Quarterfinals of the Class 6A playoffs. Matthews finished his high school career passing for 3,339 yards and 44 touchdowns and rushing for another 627 yards and 15 scores. His senior baseball season was cut short due to the COVID-19 Pandemic. 

"I'm so proud of him," Stump said. "Houston is getting a tough, smart and talented competitor. I am proud to be a part of his development and excited to follow his career." 

After high school, Matthews went on to the University of Nebraska. This past season, he hit .359 with 11 doubles, two triples, 20 home runs and drove in 67 RBIs. The Cornhuskers starting shortstop also swiped 20 bases, becoming the first-ever 20-20 (HR-SB) player in program history.

“The evolution came from playing more baseball and getting more experience under my belt,” Matthews said. “Just having the tools and resources with my teammates and coaches and learning from the guys I played with in summer ball. The power, I thought, was always there; it was just about putting the bat on the ball more consistently.” 

Throughout the pre-draft process, Matthews said there was genuine interest between the Astros and his team. Houston Astros Scouting Director Kris Gross, area scouts and even General Manager Dana Brown spoke with Matthews leading up to the draft on Sunday. 

“There was a lot of interest,” Matthews said. “It’s pretty cool for that to happen and for someone to have that much belief and to get to know me more and more. Every day there were a lot of talks with them and my advisor on how much they liked me and how interested they were. For it to happen, it’s great.” 

Eric Matthews added: “I can’t tell you how happy I am for Brice and his family. He is an amazing young man who will be a great addition to the Astros organization on and off the field.” 

Matthews believes he has the capability to be a Major League starting shortstop and that’s what he wants to do. But as for now, it is all about gaining more experience and getting more reps as he begins his next journey – trying to reach The Show. 

“There’s still so much work I have to do to get better and be the player I want to be,” Matthews said.