The Braves signed left-handed pitcher Tyler Matzek to a minor league deal on August 31, according to his MLB.com profile. He was assigned to Triple-A Gwinnett today. Since he signed before September 1, Matzek is eligible for the Braves’ postseason roster.
Matzek is well-acquainted with playoff baseball in Atlanta, having been a key part of their bullpen during their 2021 World Series victory. He had another solid season in 2022 but missed the playoffs due to Tommy John surgery in October of that year. After sitting out the entire 2023 season to recover, Matzek returned this year but struggled, posting a 9.90 ERA over 10 innings for the Braves.
Elbow inflammation sidelined Matzek in May, and he hasn’t pitched in the majors since. The Braves traded him to the Giants as part of the Jorge Soler deal at the deadline, where he appeared in five games with their Triple-A team before being released by San Francisco earlier this week.
Matzek is now back with the Braves after just over a month away. He’ll likely continue working to regain his form in Gwinnett. His brief stint at Triple-A Sacramento was unremarkable, with a 5.79 ERA over 4 2/3 innings. The Braves often bring back former players, and adding Matzek to the Triple-A roster comes with no risk, especially since they’re already responsible for the remainder of his $1.9 million salary for 2024.
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