At the start of the 2023 international signing period, the Pittsburgh Pirates added David Matoma as their first signing out of Uganda. The right-handed Matoma is a six-foot, 154 pound right-hander who had a reported 89-92 MPH fastball when he signed with the Pirates.
By the end of the 2023 season, he had pitched 16.2 scoreless innings in the DSL, striking out 14, with a 1.14 WHIP. He was also hitting triple-digits with his fastball.
“I don’t think I’ve ever seen a 17 year old throw 100 miles an hour,” said Pirates’ farm director John Baker.