Rookie left-hander Tyler Matzek made steady progress as his first big-league season went along. (John Leyba, The Denver Post)
Hope.
That’s what Tyler Matzek provided the Rockies during their dismal 2014 season, and it’s what he gives them as they look toward 2015.
The promise of top prospects Jon Gray and Eddie Butler grabbed headlines and sparked anticipation during spring training, but it was Matzek, the 2009 first-round draft pick, who had the breakthrough season. Is the 24-year-old left-hander a finished product? Nope. Did he experience some ruts in the road during his first season in the majors? Yep.
But he blossomed during the second half of the season and it was a pleasure to watch Matzek grow up — on the mound and in the clubhouse. By the end of the season he clearly belonged. Over his last six starts, Matzek went 4-2 with a 1.55 ERA, struck out 38 and walked just 14.
in the Rockies’ 3-0 victory at Coors Field. It was the best performance by a Colorado pitcher all season.
“I feel like I’ve been finding my groove the last two or three games,” Matzek said that day. “Just everything is working — fastball location, slider, changeup, curveball. Everything feels right right now.”
One of the best things Matzek did was quit grooving the ball over the plate. In his first three starts in August, he served up five home runs, all on the road. By contrast, he allowed just one homer in his last six starts.
There were some ugly games when Matzek struggled with command. scoring eight runs on 10 hits in a mere four innings. But the impressive thing about Matzek is his ability to bounce back, learn from his mistakes and keep moving forward.
During his long climb through the minor leagues, the biggest concern was Matzek’s pitch command. During his 2013 season at Double-A Tulsa, for example, he struck out 95 and walked 76. That 1.25 strikeout-to-walk ratio was troublesome.
But when Matzek reached the majors, his ability to throw first-pitch strikes and a growing confidence in his slider and changeup helped him cut down on the walks. He finished his first big-league season with a 2.07 strikeout-to-walk ratio (91 to 44).
At the end of the season, Matzek was Colorado’s second-best starter behind Jorge De La Rosa, and he was gaining ground.
Matzek must stay healthy and he must be prepared when major-league hitters counterpunch in 2015, so caution is advised. But the talent and hope Matzek provides is very real.
2014 Salary: $500,000
2015 Salary: $502,000
Stat of Note: 1.55 ERA Matzek’s ERA over his last six starts when he went 4-2 and threw a complete-game shutout.
GRADE: B-
Tags: Jorge De La Rosa, Rockies, Tyler Matzek, Walt Weiss
