From Atascocita QB to Astros Opening Day Roster: Brice Matthews' Journey

The mindset never changed — only the sport did. Long before Brice Matthews was playing center field and second base for the Houston Astros, he was one of the most dynamic quarterbacks in the Houston area, leading Atascocita High School's Eagles through a 2019 season that turned heads across the region.

Matthews threw 22 touchdown passes and added seven more on the ground that year, capping it with a 69-7 blowout win over Katy Taylor. He was a dual-threat weapon in every sense, and HOU Inside High School Sports recognized him as a Week 1 Bobblehead MVP. But even then, baseball was always part of the plan.

After three years at the University of Nebraska, the Houston Astros selected Matthews with the 28th overall pick in the 2023 MLB Draft — a homecoming of sorts for the former Eagle. He moved quickly through Houston's farm system, drawing attention not just for his bat but for his ability to play multiple positions across the infield and outfield.

That versatility earned him a spot on the Astros' Opening Day roster on March 26th. Astros management pointed to his strong spring, his athleticism, his speed on the bases, and his willingness to compete for a job — and win it. Matthews played center field, second base, and left field during the spring, giving the club the kind of flexibility that is hard to find.

Matthews credits football with shaping the way he approaches the game. The discipline of practicing with intent, the habit of always having a plan of attack — those lessons from Friday nights at Atascocita carried over directly to the diamond. "That's never left me," he said. "There's always a plan of attack, decision making."

The name on the back of the jersey is the same. So is everything behind it.