TAMPA – Gerit Cole was preparing for the season and threw a bullpen to UC-Irvine and added a professional scout to his ledger.
Cole has known Tyler Matzek for a long time. Posting his name, Cole notes that Matzek was a young man from Orange County and attacked him twice in high school. Now he noticed Matzek's life on the pitch, the incorporation of a new two-seamer the two chatted with, and the Yankees wanted to add a left-handed reliefer.
So the Yankees ace asks Matzek if he could recommend him to the Yankees. Certainly, why not, Matzek thought. And this chain began: Cole texted Brian Cashman to assure him what he was watching and in line with Matzek Slow's videos distributed to all the right people in the organization. It was sent to the point that Scout JT Stotts was watching Matzek, and soon afterwards he signed a minor league contract.
Now let's discuss the mountains we are climbing. Matzek underwent surgery by Tommy John in October 2022, missed the 2023 season, spending a 9.90 ERA with the Braves last year with 11 appearances, went to IL with elbow inflammation, and was traded primarily as financial. Counterweight with San Francisco takes Luke Jackson and Jorge Solar to Atlanta. He never pitched for the Giants, and never pitched a brave man when they brought him back after being released to San Francisco.
