Matthew Festa is a Major League Baseball pitcher who currently plays for the Seattle Mariners (MLB). In Staten Island, New York, Festa attended St. Joseph by the Sea High School.
He began his undergraduate baseball career at Dominican College, where he played for the Dominican Chargers for one year before transferring to East Stroudsburg University of Pennsylvania, where he played for the East Stroudsburg Warriors for three years. The Seattle Mariners chose him in the seventh round of the 2016 MLB draft, with the 207th overall pick.
Festa pitched in 14 games for the Everett AquaSox of the Low-A Northwest League in 2016, earning a 6–2 record with a 3.73 earned run average (ERA) (eight starts).
Festa made the Mariners’ Opening Day roster in 2019. Festa was sent down to Triple-A multiple times during the season, ending his 2019 season with just 20 appearances for Seattle. On February 3, 2020, Festa was designated for assignment and outrighted on February 10.
On March 5, 2020, Festa underwent Tommy John surgery, ending his 2020 season before it began. He returned to action in August 2021 for the Triple-A Tacoma Rainiers, and tossed 21.1 innings of 2.95 ERA ball for the team, also appearing in 4 rehab games with the High-A Everett AquaSox and AZL Mariners. On April 7, 2022, the Mariners selected Festa’s contract, adding him to their opening day roster.
Matt has never divulged any information about his parents, he is a very private person who likes to keep his personal life away from media attention.