Matzek takes big first step forward in spring debut

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NORTH PORT, Fla. -- Tyler Matzek isn’t completely back to being himself yet. But he’s back, and that’s all that matters as he aims to regain the dominance he displayed before missing last year while recovering from Tommy John surgery.

Matzek successfully passed another hurdle on Monday, when he made his spring debut against the Orioles. His one-inning stint marked the first time he pitched against opponents since his injury-riddled 2022 season concluded with the revelation he would miss all of '23.

“My body is recovering well, honestly, better than I was expecting,” Matzek said. “I feel really good. I’m happy with it right now.”

That’s really all Braves manager Brian Snitker wanted to hear after watching Matzek pitch a scoreless inning against the Orioles. His fastball velocity was 91-95 miles per hour, and the hit he allowed was a triple that a leaping Jarred Kelenic prevented from clearing the outfield wall.

But this was just the beginning for Matzek, one of the Braves’ top relievers during the 2020 and ’21 seasons.

“You want him to feel good about it and be right,” Snitker said. “It’s going to take him a while to build up. As long as he stays healthy and can make each [Spring Training] appearance, I think everything else will take care of itself. Right now, everything looks really good.”

There’s a chance the Braves will give Matzek a chance to make a few April appearances with Triple-A Gwinnett before putting him on Atlanta’s roster. But the veteran left-hander is going to make more appearances than normal Spring Training. Matzek believes this will give him and the team a chance to know if he would indeed be ready for a regular relief role at the start of the regular season.

“If I continue down this path where I’m bouncing back real well, doing my back-to-back appearances and my three-out-of-fours, there will be no need to slow down the process,” Matzek said. “Starting on the IL was more of an, ‘If I need to,’ which right now, it doesn’t look like it. But if I need to, it’s more important to take two weeks at the start of the season than to take two weeks in the middle of the season because something is flaring up.”

Regardless of whether Matzek is ready for Opening Day, Atlanta is confident he will be an asset within what should be one of the game’s top bullpens.