House That Hank Built
Fansided

Atlanta Braves are getting some relief from an unexpected source

By Alan Carpenter

FORT MYERS, FLORIDA - MARCH 01: Tyler Matzek #59 of the Atlanta Braves delivers a pitch against the Boston Red Sox during the third inning of a Grapefruit League spring training game at JetBlue Park at Fenway South on March 01, 2020 in Fort Myers, Florida. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)
FORT MYERS, FLORIDA - MARCH 01: Tyler Matzek #59 of the Atlanta Braves delivers a pitch against the Boston Red Sox during the third inning of a Grapefruit League spring training game at JetBlue Park at Fenway South on March 01, 2020 in Fort Myers, Florida. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
2 of 3
Next
DENVER, CO – MAY 6, 2015: Starting pitcher Tyler Matzek #15 of the Colorado Rockies sits in the dugout after being removed from the game during the third inning against the Arizona Diamondbacks. (Photo by Justin Edmonds/Getty Images)
DENVER, CO – MAY 6, 2015: Starting pitcher Tyler Matzek #15 of the Colorado Rockies sits in the dugout after being removed from the game during the third inning against the Arizona Diamondbacks. (Photo by Justin Edmonds/Getty Images) /

The Downward Spiral

There was a injury in 2015 requiring surgery, but by 2016, things were so bad that the Rockies ultimately cut him. He wasn’t starting and he couldn’t handle a relief role either.

Matzek tried to latch up with the White Sox in 2017… didn’t make it through Spring training. In 2018, the same thing happened with the Mariners.

In 2019… Matzek tried the Driveline program. That got him some work with the Diamondbacks, but he was released from that comeback attempt in mid-May.

That left him only with Independent ball, which he tried in parts of both 2018 and 2019. In 2018, the stats weren’t any better… even in the American Association. But in 2019…

No Shortage of Talent

Matzek has always had enough ‘stuff’ – he consistently has struck out hitters at a 1+-per-inning rate. It’s been the walks that have killed him and his chances to stick at any level, though the Rockies seemingly ignored this problem as he marched through their system originally.

The Atlanta Braves must have seen something they liked in him last Summer. Or… maybe they just needed a fresh arm for the bullpen in the minors. Either way, they picked him up for August.

At AA Mississippi, he only throw 2.1 innings, but struck out 5 while walking no one.

A quick promotion to Gwinnett saw 10 more innings, though old tricks were popping up: 5 walks and a 9 ERA… but he did strike out 12 in the process.

So that brings us to this Spring.

Of note, Tyler Matzek is still in the Braves system.  Had they not liked the brief audition they saw, he would have been unceremoniously dumped along the side of the road… just as 4 other clubs have done since 2016.

Home/Braves News