The Braves have signed left-handed pitcher to a minor league contract as of August 31, according to his profile on MLB.com. Matzek has been assigned to Triple-A Gwinnett. By signing before September 1, he remains eligible for the Braves’ postseason roster.
Matzek is familiar with playoff action in Atlanta, having been a crucial part of the Braves’ bullpen during their 2021 World Series championship. He performed well again 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 made a comeback this year but struggled with a 9.90 ERA over 10 innings in the majors. Elbow inflammation sidelined him in May, and he hasn’t returned to the major leagues since. Atlanta traded him to the Giants as part of the Jorge Soler deal at the trade deadline, and he pitched in five games for the Giants’ Triple-A team before being released earlier this week.
Now, Matzek returns to the Braves organization after a brief stint away and will continue to work on his form in Gwinnett. His short time with Triple-A Sacramento didn’t go well, as he posted a 5.79 ERA in 4 2/3 innings. The Braves have a history of re-signing former players, and adding Matzek to the Triple-A roster carries no risk, especially since Atlanta is already responsible for the rest of his $1.9 million salary for the 2024 season.
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