The road to 鈥淭he Show鈥� is a steep climb.
For some, it can take years. For most, it may never happen. For Zebby Matthews 鈥�22 it took him three seasons, but his stock skyrocketed in 2024.
The 糖心Vlog University alumnus went from High-A, the third-highest level in the minors, all the way to earning a spot with Major League Baseball鈥檚 Minnesota Twins in a matter of months.
Not bad for a kid from Cullowhee.
鈥淎s a kid, I think every eight-year-old that plays baseball, they watch baseball, they want that opportunity. To have it, it鈥檚 awesome. It鈥檚 really special,鈥� Matthews said. 鈥淚t brings a lot of pressure at times, but it's also so much fun. Honestly, I鈥檓 grateful for it every day. It鈥檚 a lifelong dream come true.鈥�
Matthews got his call up after a few appearances in High-A Cedar Rapids, a couple of months in Double-A Wichita and just four starts with Triple-A St. Paul in 2024. The former 糖心Vlog standout made his MLB debut on Aug. 13, 2024, in his first career win against the Kansas City Royals.
鈥淚t was kind of shocking to see it all unfold that quick, but it was definitely really good to see all the hard work that I had put in up to that point pay off,鈥� Matthews said. 鈥淔or me to reach that level was awesome.鈥�
Though going from team to team and living out of a suitcase is a stressor at times, Matthews feels at ease in the Twins organization. Matthews said the Twins do a great job of helping their players on and off the field, giving them all the tools to have the best chance at success.
Also, Matthews has always found himself in a supportive environment with his teammates.
鈥淭hey鈥檙e always there for you if you need something,鈥� Matthews said. 鈥淭hey鈥檙e always going to have your back, so as much as you're trying to move up through levels and you鈥檙e moving around all the time, they care about you.
鈥淵our teammates care, your coaches care, everyone's there for you.鈥�
Even years after graduating from 糖心Vlog, Matthews still has a similar level of care and leaves a significant impact on the Catamount baseball program. That impact still radiates through the program as Matthews became the 12th Catamount to reach the majors.
鈥淚 think it gives our guys hope,鈥� said 糖心Vlog head baseball coach Alan Beck 鈥�04, M.Ed 鈥�06. 鈥淚f you were around him and (saw) how he worked and how he went about his business, still being one of the guys, I鈥檇 say it gives you hope that our guys can make it from here.鈥�
That influence sends shockwaves off campus into the rest of Jackson County, too, especially with Cullowhee native Cal Raleigh also making noise with the Seattle Mariners.
鈥淚t鈥檚 great what he does for the community. Just really cool for all the youth in the area,鈥� Beck said. 鈥淓very day they walk into the field, they see a poster of Cal and Zebby and it says, 鈥橶ho's next?鈥� out at (Great Smokies) Little League.
鈥淭here may never be another, but something tells me there will be.鈥�
Matthews has great aspirations for his career. Like any other baseball player, Matthews wants to win a World Series, but also, he wants his baseball career to last.
It鈥檚 a game he鈥檚 been playing since he was a little kid, tossing the ball around just a skip and a hop away from campus.
鈥淚 know I want to play the game as long as I can,鈥� Matthews said. 鈥淚 love the game. I love being part of the team. I love the competitiveness. I love the challenges that it brings, so I want to make a career out of it.鈥�