FORT MYERS, Fla. — The way Aaron Boone spoke about Tyler Matzek during a visiting dugout at Hammond Stadium Tuesday morning sounded like someone trying to build a team.
Mazzek then took the mound for Grapefruitreeg's debut and did little to ease that enthusiasm.
There's still a long way to go between March 27th and March 27th, when the Yankees open their season against Bronx brewers, but if Matzek stays healthy, he's a strong chance to win a spot in the bullpen Apparently they have a non-roster invitation to camp.
“You look at him and it feels like we got something out there,” Boone said before the twins' 5-4 defeat. “Obviously he's the best rescuer and then some injuries have brought him back in the last few years. But he looks really good. I was excited to see him in the game. , I'm excited to move him. But the early signs point to something he can absolutely consider.”
In his first game action this spring, Matzek pitched seven scoreless innings on nine pitches after the 2024 season was derailed by elbow inflammation, and after completing Tommy John's surgery in October 2022, Matzek pitched seven innings without a scoreless one, then bullpen I went down to the area and threw a handful of more. Raise his workload.
His fastball averaged 94.6 mph, averaged on 11 appearances with the Braves last year, and along the speed he had before Tommy John.
“I'm peeking [the velocity] Just know where I am and whether mine is effective on the day – if that day I have to be the junk ball pitcher for the day, or if I can actually use 4 seams ” Matzek said. “I was happy with where the speed was. It shows I'm healthy. It feels really good now. I put in effort and the speed I feel like it matches. It feels like it's being removed, so I just want to keep climbing where it is now and as long as I go.”
Matzek showed that he felt he was “close” to the pitcher before the surgery – when he posted a 2.92 ERA in 132 games in three seasons with the Braves – that's where he returned. I didn't want to be the ceiling.
“That's all this stuff. I want to get to that guy, but even better than that guy,” he said. “I just take it one step at a time, but I feel great now. Once I feel better, I can keep getting better and better every day.”
The Yankees re-signed Tim Hill earlier this month to ensure they would ensure at least one left-handed bailout in the bullpen.
However, Matzek, who signed a minor league contract a few days later, grabbed one of the open bullpen spots to join groups such as Devin Williams, Luke Weaver, Hill, Ian Hamilton, Devin Williams and Ian Hamilton. , managed to join him as the second left-handed person. Mark Reiter Jr. and Fernando Cruz.
The competition for the last two spots could have been a hit on Tuesday. Scott Ephelos was on a similar road as Matzek (who had a UCL surgery a day away), but after throwing only one, he pitched in eight innings, leaving the mound with a hamstring injury.
The predicted bullpen mix could change it quickly, but for now, Matzek saw a portion of it and ran out to Yankees officials for that.
“I'm happy where I am,” Matzek said. “This process took a little while, but at the end of the tunnel, the light is beginning to appear. It's starting to take me to a place where I feel I can go out there and compete on the field.”
