Hard-nosed Mathews makes mark with 51s

Aaron Mathews grew up around a cattle ranch in John Day, Ore., which has a population of less than 2,000.

Instilled with a tireless work ethic at a young age, the 51s center fielder has carried that approach with him into his professional baseball career.

"A lot of tough people live where I live. It's a logging and ranching community," Mathews said Tuesday at Cashman Field before Las Vegas' 5-2 loss to Sacramento. "I think (because of) how I was raised around the ranch, I'm a go-getter.

"I just try to play 110 percent all the time."

Mathews' hard-nosed playing style has earned him a good reputation in the Toronto Blue Jays organization.

"He plays hard and he plays the game the right way," Dick Scott, Toronto's director of player development, said Tuesday. "His hustle and determination really put him on the map a couple years ago."

A 19th-round draft pick of Toronto out of Oregon State in 2004, Mathews steadily has worked his way through the Blue Jays organization and has thrived this season, his first in Triple-A.

Batting .284 with a team-high four triples and 33 RBIs in 73 games for the 51s (34-45), Mathews leads the Pacific Coast League with 12 outfield assists.

"Defense is one of my favorites," the stocky 27-year-old said. "This game's about hitting and defense. If I'm not hitting well, I kind of take pride in my defense, and vice versa."

A career .286 hitter entering this year, his sixth as a pro, Mathews went 1-for-5 on Tuesday to extend his hitting streak to eight games. He's hitting .417 (15-for-36) during the streak, his third this season of at least eight games.

"I'm just swinging at better pitches and relaxing at the plate a little more," he said. "I'm not swinging at the pitcher's pitch; I'm swinging at my pitch, around the zone, and that helps me out a lot."

A mainstay in the 51s outfield this season, he has overcome injuries in the past. The 5-foot-10-inch, 195-pound Mathews has practically willed himself to this point.

"He's not the fastest guy or best defender or best hitter, but with his determination, he's made himself a very good all-around player," Scott said. "He has a lot of guts."

Mathews, who is looking forward to playing in front of about 60 friends and family members at Portland when the 51s visit the Beavers in late July, likes his chances to make the majors one day.

But Scott said timing is everything.

"He's just going to have to be probably at the right place at the right time for something to happen for him," he said. "But they're aware of him up there and they like the way he plays."

* NOTES -- Left-hander Brad Mills was activated by Las Vegas and outfielder Buck Coats was placed on the disabled list, retroactive to Monday. ...

Sky Sox right-hander Brandon Hynick tossed a seven-inning perfect game Tuesday in a 2-0 victory over the Portland Beavers at Colorado Springs.

The Ohio native had six strikeouts and induced six flyouts and nine groundouts in the game, which took one hour, 36 minutes to complete.

Contact reporter Todd Dewey at tdewey@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-0354.