There are numerous fan favorites in Braves Country. The club has generated some fantastic events and personalities, whether it’s dugout mascots like Pablo Sandoval or folk legends like Ron Washington, but few compare to Tyler Matzek.
His teammates dubbed him “Nutsack” after his heroics in the 2021 NLCS against the Dodgers. The Braves led 4-2 in the seventh inning, with runners on second and third base and no outs. Brian Snitker summoned Matzek, who struck out Albert Pujols, Steven Souza, and Mookie Betts.
Truist Park’s eruption was the loudest I’ve ever heard, and it would have registered on the Richter scale. Atlanta would go on to win the game, sending the Braves to the World Series, where they defeated the Astros in six games, earning Atlanta its first major sports championship since 1995.
Tyler Matzek’s 2023 season was cut short due to Tommy John surgery, but his presence was felt throughout the season, most notably against the Mets in a June series. In the third inning, Pete Alonso rocketed a Bryce Elder hanging slider into the stratosphere, prompting the New York first baseman to shout from the dugout, “Throw it again, please throw it again.”
Later, a two-run double by Sean Murphy, an RBI double by Marcell Ozuna, and an RBI single by Orlando Arcia gave the Braves the lead. As a result, Tyler Matzek yelled from the Atlanta dugout, “Throw it again!”
Even though Matzek never played a game, he was always there for his teammates, as Brian Snitker highlighted during the Nashville winter meetings.
Brian Snitker is excited for Tyler Matzek's return.
"In all his absence, he wasn't absent," Snitker said. "He was there with the guys every day, and that's a presence that you can't replace."
— Justin Toscano (@JustinCToscano) December 5, 2023
Matzek is slated to return to the organization in Spring with the opportunity to carve himself a spot in one of baseball’s deepest bullpens. Nobody would be happier if he regained his form than Braves Nation.
Leave a Reply