2017 Baseball Roster
Jersey Number 17
Matthew James
- Ht./Wt.:
- 6-1 / 200
- Position:
- 1B/OF/RHP
- Hometown:
- Normal, Ill.
- High School:
- Normal West
Career Highs
Updated following the 2017 season
PITCHING
- Innings pitched: 6.0, at Minnesota, Apr 29, 2017 ; Maryland, May 07, 2017 ; at Rutgers, May 14, 2017
- Strikeouts: 6, at Illinois State, Mar 22, 2016; Maryland, May 07, 2017
- Batters faced: 27, at Rutgers, May 14, 2017
HITTING
- Hits: 2, at Northwestern, Apr 05, 2015 ; at Florida Gulf Coast, Feb 27, 2016 ; at Michigan State, Mar 28, 2015
- Doubles: 2, at Michigan State, Mar 28, 2015
- Triples: 1, at Lamar University, Feb 18, 2017 ; Kent State, Mar 25, 2015
- Home runs: 1, 6 times
- Total bases: 5, at Florida Gulf Coast, Feb 27, 2016
- RBI: 3, at Northwestern, Apr 05, 2015 ; at Lamar University, Feb 18, 2017 ; Kent State, Mar 25, 2015
- Runs scored: 2, Saint Louis, Apr 08, 2015 ; Michigan State, May 04, 2014
- Walks: 2, at Coastal Carolina, Mar 12, 2016 ; Xavier, Mar 22, 2014
- Hit by pitch: 1, at Eastern Illinois, Apr 07, 2015 ; Michigan State, May 04, 2014 ; vs Michigan State, May 21, 2014
- Sac flies: 1, at Southern Illinois, Apr 28, 2015 ; at Oklahoma State, Mar 06, 2015
- At bats: 4, 14 times
- Stolen bases: 1, South Florida, Mar 22, 2015
Senior - 2017
- Converted to a pitcher only in the middle of the season
- 1-1, 5.17 ERA, 16 APP, 8 GS, 55.2 IP, 26 BB, 42 SO, .259 BAA on the season
- 1-0, 4.97 ERA, 9 APP, 6 GS, 38.0 IP, 18 BB, 29 SO, .269 BAA in the Big Ten
- Used as Illinois’ Sunday starter for the last six weeks
- Led the team in strikeouts during Big Ten games (29)
- Second on the team in innings during Big Ten games (38.0)
- Did not allow more than four runs in a game
- 6.0 IP, 5 H, 1 ER, 5 BB, 2 SO in win at Minnesota 4/29/17
- Career-best six innings in three straight Big Ten starts April 29-May 14
- Hit a three-run triple at Lamar 2/18/17
Junior - 2016
- 19 games played, 12 starts
- 11 starts at first base, one start on the mound
- Missed the second half of the season with a wrist injury
- .227 (10-44), 2 HR, 4 RBIs in 19 games (11 starts)
- 0-0, 9.53 ERA, 11.1 IP, 15 H, 12 ER, 3 BB, 12 SO, 5 appearances, 1 start
- First career start on the mound March 22 at Illinois State (4.0 IP, 3 R, 6 K)
Sophomore - 2015
- Played in 38 games (24 starts), starting 23 games as designated hitter and making first start at first base vs. Fordham (2/21)
- Hit .261 with 14 runs, four home runs and 17 RBI
- Posted a .457 slugging percentage and .314 on-base percentage
- Had a hit vs. Vanderbilt (6/6) in the NCAA Super Regional
- Hammered fourth home run at SIU (4/28) and had two RBI
- Recorded season-high two runs vs. Saint Louis (4/8)
- Tied career-best hits (2) and tied career-best RBI (3) vs. Northwestern (4/5)
- Had career-high doubles (2) at Michigan State (3/28)
- Drilled first career triple off the center field wall at Illinois Field for a career-high three RBI vs. Kent State (3/25)
- Belted third home run vs. USF (3/21)
- Pinch-hit home run at Coastal Carolina (3/2)
- Hit first career home run vs. Ball State (2/28)
- Academic All-Big Ten
- 2 saves, 2.34 ERA, 13 SO, 7.2 IP for the Waterloo Bucks of the Northwoods League during the summer of 2015
Freshman - 2014
- Made five starts with three at designated hitter and two at first base
- Hit .190 with six runs, eight walks and two hit by pitches
- Pinch-hit 13 times, going 2-for-8 with four walks and a hit by pitch
- Played first base in both games of the doubleheader vs. Xavier (3/22)
- Scored a run at Iowa (5/9)
- Entered the finale against Michigan State (5/4) and scored a career-high two runs
- Ripped a double for his first career hit and scored a run in his first career start at Southern Illinois (3/15)
- Made Illini debut with a walk in his pinch-hit appearance vs. Connecticut (2/23)
- Threw a no-hitter with 12 strikeouts for the Lexington Snipes of the Midwest Collegiate League during the summer of 2014
- .302, 17 RBI, 8 2B, 2 HR, .472 slugging percentage for the Lexington Snipes during the summer of 2014
High School
- No. 26 player in the Class of 2013 in the state of Illinois by both Perfect Game USA and Prep Baseball Report
- Threw four no-hitters (two perfect games) at Normal West, striking out at least 10 in each no-hitter
- Threw a perfect game while striking out 14 of 15 batters against University High
- 10-1, 2 saves, 1.34 ERA, 106 SO, 20 BB, 67.2 IP as a senior
- .411, 38 RBI as a senior
- 7-1, 1.48 ERA, 27 H, 58 SO, 13 BB, 42.2 IP as a junior
- .356, 7 3B (school record), 8 2B, 29 RBI as a junior
- Played through mononucleosis during junior season before being diagnosed prior to postseason (onset prior to the season)
- 9-1, 0.62 ERA (school record), 107 SO, 8 BB, 67 IP with six shutouts as a sophomore
- Team-best .437, 9 2B, 4 3B, 2 HR, 29 RBI, 15 SB as a sophomore
- Normal West career records in ERA (1.08), strikeouts (288), wins (28), triples (15) and assists (164)
- 2013 Louisville Slugger All-American first team
- 2012 and 2013 Louisville Slugger Preseason All-American
- 2011 and 2013 IHSBCA Class 4A All-State pitcher
- 2011 and 2013 Big 12 Pitcher of the Year
- 2011 CornBeltBaseball.com Pitcher of the Year
- Three-time All-Big 12 Conference selection (2011-13)
- Only sophomore named to the Illinois High School Baseball Coaches Association Class 4A All-State team in 2011
- Led Normal West to a regional championship in 2011, 2012 and 2013
- Three-time Big 12 Conference Scholar-Athlete from 2011-13
- .456, 53 RBI, 22 2B, 5 HR during summer of 2013 with BNBA Gold
- .453, 17 2B, 41 RBI, 5 3B, 2 HR, .761 slugging percentage during summer of 2012 with BNBA Gold
- Earned four varsity letters in baseball
Personal
- Born April 23, 1995
- Major: Recreation, sport and tourism (sport management)
- Parents are Brad and Denise James
- Father, Brad, played baseball at Illinois State from 1987-91 and in the Atlanta Braves' organization from 1991-92
- Uncle, William Murray, played for the Detroit Lions
- Majoring in recreation, sport and tourism with a concentration in sport management
- Hobbies include playing sports and golfing
- Biggest thrill in sports was throwing a no-hitter against in-town rival his senior year
- Favorite athlete is Derek Jeter
- Listed father as person who most influenced his athletic career because he taught him baseball at a young age
Illini Baseball | 03.18.25 Cinematic Recap vs. Indiana State
Wednesday, March 19
ILLINI BASE | Head Coach Dan Hartleb Availability (2/12/25)
Thursday, February 13
Illini Athletics | Week of Appreciation Coaches Video Dan Hartleb
Monday, December 09
Illini Baseball | Team IMPACT Signing
Friday, September 22
