Boston College Baseball Adds Matt Meyer to Coaching Staff

The Boston College baseball team added former Eagle Matt Meyer to its coaching staff. Meyer, who played for BC between 2003-2006, is a former 15th round draft choice of the Cleveland Indians while also spending time in the Los Angeles Angels organization.

"Matt is a kid who loves BC, loves the program and takes a lot of pride in both," said manager Mike Gambino in the school's official release. "He is a great worker as a student and a player and his success on the mound, as well as the fact that he is coming back to finish his degree, proves both of those things. He has a wealth of knowledge that our boys can tap into because how much experience he's had both where they are now and where they want to go. He's a great role model for all our kids in showing how important his degree is. On top of that, he knows what Birdball means and the character, toughness, and class that comes along with it."

Meyer pitched for the Eagles primarily out of the bullpen. Used in just 12 games his first two years, he would have a breakout junior year in 2006 when he appeared in 28 games, including four starts. He accumulated a 2-2 record and struck out 50 across 45.2 IP. He was expected to play in the Cape Cod Baseball League during the summer of '06, but he was signed by Cleveland after being selected in the 15th round (461st overall), just three rounds behind fellow Birdballer Terry Doyle.

Meyer spent his career in the minors, working his way through the farm systems of Cleveland, St. Louis, and Los Angeles. His best year came in 2009, when he started the season in Single A ball but would advance to Triple A before everything ended. Across all three leagues, a 3-2 record while appearing in 50 games, finishing 10. Groomed as a lefty-on-lefty specialist, he was released and signed with the American Association independent league to start 2010. The Angels would sign him and assign him to the Class A Rancho Cucamonga Quakes, where he went 3-0 with a 0.00 ERA in 18 appearances, including 16 games finished and nine saves. He would be dealt to St. Louis before the year's end, where he finished in AA level baseball before being released.

In 2011, he again had to work his way up from the low levels of the farm system with the Angels, advancing to AAA Salt Lake in the PCL. He would remain in Salt Lake City for the 2012 season, appearing in 51 games before being released by Los Angeles. He returned to St. Paul in the American Association this season, throwing in 39 games with 14 saves and 36 games finished, but he now returns to Boston College as a student assistant with the focus on completing a degree in sociology that he did not finish when he departed early to chase Major League Baseball dreams. As part of his duties, Meyer will assist with the pitching staff and the general coaching duties.

"Birdball to me is an attitude to live by and to also carry onto the field with you," Meyer said. "To me, it means to be a hard-nosed, blue-collar competitor who doesn't let anything affect the way you go about your business. Pete Frates is the definition of a true Birdballer."

A hearty welcome home to Matt Meyer, who was a part of the foundation of BC baseball during the glory years of the late-2000s!