NORTH PORT, Fla. — Together with coping with the bodily challenges that accompany restoration from Tommy John surgical procedure, Tyler Matzek spent the previous 12 months and a half mentally coping with yet one more premature setback.
After producing one of many best playoff moments in Atlanta sports activities historical past throughout the 2021 Nationwide League Championship Collection, Matzek was compelled to be nothing greater than a bystander throughout the previous two postseasons.
“That’s the particular time in baseball,” Matzek mentioned. “We play the entire total season for that one month of baseball. I need to get again there. I believe each participant needs to get there. We set the objective of getting there in previous seasons. Now, we need to do one thing particular and we’ve got the roster to do it.”
Matzek will perpetually be acknowledged as an integral member of the 2021 World Collection champion Braves. He posted a 1.72 ERA over 13 appearances throughout that postseason. A kind of appearances made him an Atlanta legend.
The left-handed reliever entered Sport 6 of the NLCS with runners at second and third with none out and the Braves main 4-2 within the sixth. His project was to restrict injury in opposition to these three right-handed Dodgers hitters: Albert Pujols, Steven Souza Jr. and Mookie Betts.
Matzek went above and past as he struck out every of those three hitters after which tallied two extra strikeouts in an ideal eighth.
“That was simply pure dominance and possibly one of the crucial clutch moments in Braves historical past,” Braves reliever A.J. Minter mentioned.
Sadly, this nice expertise was adopted by an injury-plagued 2022 season that concluded with him present process Tommy John surgical procedure in October. Those that have adopted Matzek’s journey may need been anticipating this bump within the highway.
After being taken by the Rockies with the eleventh general decide within the 2009 MLB Draft, he developed management points that considerably lessened his prospect standing. He debuted for Colorado in 2014 and developed the yips by the beginning of the following Spring Coaching. He battled despair and needed to search organizations whereas spending the following 5 seasons trying to get again to the Majors.
Matzek lastly returned to the Majors with the Braves in 2020. However even that ultimate rise included a pothole. He was introduced over from Minor League camp to only function an emergency choice in some Grapefruit League video games that 12 months. He impressed in two video games and was set to get extra alternatives earlier than COVID shut down the sports activities world.
Happily, supervisor Brian Snitker mentioned, “What about that left-hander?” when he and president of baseball operations Alex Anthopoulos had been discussing who to deliver to the transient summer time camp that preceded the shortened 2020 season.
Matzek established himself as a key piece of the Braves’ bullpen over the months that adopted. Now, he’s set to beat this newest impediment and as soon as once more be a key contributor to Atlanta’s World Collection bid.
“I’m feeling actually good,” Matzek mentioned. “I’m feeling wholesome. I’m not battling something. My arm is feeling actually good. I’m excited to get going.”
As a substitute of placing Matzek on the Opening Day roster, the Braves could decide to have him make a few rehab appearances earlier than becoming a member of the common bullpen combine. The veteran reliever hasn’t confronted hitters for the reason that finish of the 2022 common season.
Matzek will reintroduce himself to hitters whereas throwing reside batting follow throughout the subsequent couple weeks. He’ll then steadily construct himself again to the purpose the place he would possibly once more expertise one thing as exhilarating because the 2021 NLCS look that he and Braves followers will always remember.
