Mathis Nayral

Exclusive BTVF Interview – The Third French Player Drafted in MLB

With the 2026 MLB Draft, French baseball reaches a new milestone. Mathis Nayral, the third French player in history to be selected in the MLB Draft, our guest is about to begin his professional adventure within the Toronto Blue Jays organization. BTVF had the privilege of conducting an exclusive interview with one of the two French pitchers currently playing in the American minor leagues, for two different franchises. (Mathias Lacombe is with the White Sox). An encouraging sign for the future of French baseball, suggesting that the first French player to take the mound in the MLB might arrive sooner than expected.

BTVF: From your first steps with the Montpellier Barracudas, baseball has always held a special place in your life. Beyond the emotions this sport brings, what made you realize it could become more than just a passion, to the point of making it your life’s project?

M.N.: I think baseball has made me the person I am today. Thanks to the people who have guided me from the beginning to now, but also thanks to the sport itself. It taught me about life, with its failures and accomplishments, and I think I fell in love with all of it.

BTVF: Looking at your journey, from the Barracudas to the French Pole and then to an American university, what has been the common thread that allowed you to overcome each step? What lessons have you learned from these formative years?

M.N.: The common thread has been that I quickly developed a taste for hard work, and this motivation has never stopped growing. I’ve also learned that you have to give yourself the means to achieve your goals. It’s not enough to think about it or say it: you have to do the necessary work every day to get a little closer.

BTVF: This season marked a real turning point in your career and put you in the spotlight of MLB recruiters. In your opinion, what performances or qualities convinced the MLB franchises to bet on you?

M.N.: I think my good performances helped, but the most important thing was the movement and speed of my pitches. What matters most to scouts is the potential they see in me.

BTVF: Then came the moment every young player dreams of: the MLB Draft. Can you tell us about that day? Where were you when your name was called? How did you experience the wait? Did you feel a lot of pressure, and had you imagined a particular scenario before the announcement?

M.N.: To be completely honest, during that day, I tried not to think about it too much. I knew that, whatever happened, I couldn’t do anything more and that I just had to wait. Of course, as the Draft progressed, the stress started to build. At the moment of the announcement, I was alone in my room because I needed to be calm. When I saw my name on the list of drafted players, I felt a lot of emotions, with a lot of pride, joy, and relief.

BTVF: By choosing to sign a professional contract rather than continuing your university career, you join the Toronto Blue Jays organization. What does this franchise represent to you? Is it a team you already followed, and what did you feel when you learned it was them who trusted you?

M.N.: What I really like about this team is that it represents all of Canada. There is therefore a lot of fervor around this franchise. I was very happy to learn that it was they who had chosen me, partly for what they represent, but also because they have a very good reputation for player development.

BTVF: You become only the third French player drafted by an MLB franchise and the second pitcher to achieve this step. Have you had the opportunity to exchange recently with Joris Bert or Mathias Lacombe? What advice or experience can they bring to help you succeed in this new adventure?

M.N.: I regularly discuss with Mathias, as we often check in on each other. Just after the Draft, we exchanged a lot, and I was able to ask him many questions. Simply the fact that they talk to me about their experience can help me prepare better.

BTVF: This signing marks the culmination of years of hard work, but it also represents the beginning of a new challenge. Beyond the obvious goal of one day joining the MLB fields, what are now your priorities to progress? What is the ultimate dream you wish to achieve in your career?

M.N.: My priorities are to gain weight and take advantage of all the resources at my disposal. All of this will help me become a better pitcher. As you said, it’s a dream and a goal: to play one day in the MLB.

Interview conducted by D Cannioux

Photo Credit: RS Clubs