Humbled and motivated by mistakes, slugger JJ Matijevic is back in the swing of things.

Matijevic, a minor leaguer with the Houston Astros, recently returned from a 50-game suspension for violating league rules pertaining to the use of banned drugs. The former Norwin and Arizona star twice failed a test for a drug that was not revealed by the commissioner’s office in April.

Matijevic has come back with abandon, producing a pair of two-home run games and belting five homers since he was cleared to play again June 21.

More than a wake-up call, the free-and-easy Matijevic considers the suspension a life-changing event.

“I not only became a better baseball player through this down time,” he said, “but also a better person, and that means more.”

Matijevic was with Double-A Corpus Christi Hooks of the Texas League when he was suspended and upon his return was sent down to Class A-Advanced Fayetteville Woodpeckers, a member of the Carolina League.

Just five games later and off the hook, he was promoted back to Corpus Christi, where he hit four homers and drive in seven in six games.

He has six home runs in his last 10 games. He went 3 for 5 with two homers and five RBIs — a two-run, two-out homer, and a three-run shot — Tuesday against the Frisco RoughRiders.

Two homers in a game is cool, but know what's cooler?

Doing it twice in five days.@TweetinJ_23 has got you covered! Hooks finish the road trip in Frisco at 7:05. pic.twitter.com/6sKEkLXqWE

— Corpus Christi Hooks (@cchooks) July 3, 2019

J.J. Matijevic does it again! He gives the Hooks a 10-8 lead in 7th with a 3-run shot to center off southpaw C.D. Pelham.

Matijevic now has a career-best 5 RBIs thanks to his 2nd multi-homer performance in the last 4 games. pic.twitter.com/Dk3wKU8Qox

— Corpus Christi Hooks (@cchooks) July 3, 2019

With 2 down in the 3rd, J.J. Matijevic mashes a 2-run home run to right-center! Matijevic has belted 5 homers in his last 10 games. Hooks & Riders level at 5. pic.twitter.com/MEEaAaHmFS

— Corpus Christi Hooks (@cchooks) July 3, 2019

Staying baseball-ready was a key challenge during the suspension, but Matijevic put in plenty of work in the cage to preserve his timing and power. He said he worked closely with coaches to stay sharp.

“The down time was tough, but I take pride in being a very mentally strong human being, and I just did my best to stay as positive as possible through it all,” Matijevic said. “What I learned was that life is more (than) about baseball. Life is about learning and overcoming adversity, so what I do is take each day and do my best to learn more and become the best JJ that I can be.”

In 25 games this season with the Hooks, Matijevic carries a .253 average with six homers, six doubles and 14 RBIs.

He homered twice and hit .333 in five games with Fayetteville, which led to the swift promotion and smooth merge point.

“I took pride in waking up every day doing my best to become the best person I could be, not just for myself but for others, and brightening their day and that helped me a ton while I was suspended,” said Matijevic, who has played first base, designated hitter, right field and left field this year. “Doing that made me a better baseball player because I was always in a good mood no matter what and could focus more on my skills on the field and just have the most fun possible.”

With the suspension behind him and an apparent lesson learned, Matijevic’s focus is more on where he goes from here, not what happened in the past.

“I never once felt bad for myself,” he said, “because I knew I had the chance to just get so much better in every aspect of my game, and that’s what I did.”

J.J. Matijevic makes his first Double-A appearance in left field tonight as your Hooks continue this four-game set at Hodgetown. First pitch 6:05.

?: https://t.co/4RrB7vJ1fn ?: https://t.co/9QG6erGm8F pic.twitter.com/XQpTf2bR6n

— Corpus Christi Hooks (@cchooks) June 29, 2019

J.J. Matijevic and Seth Beer go deep! Both lefty sluggers club oppo shots off southpaw Nick Margevicius. Amarillo leads, 3-2, heading into the home 4th. pic.twitter.com/Fsrid0fuJF

— Corpus Christi Hooks (@cchooks) June 30, 2019

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