Ranking The Rockies: 32 Tyler Matzek

We at BSN Denver are running a series where we rank how valuable each of the Rockies’ 51 players was to the team in 2015. Value was calculated by statistics, viewing, and how memorable each player’s contributions were. The rankings will be from last to first, you may view the full rankings (here).

Player: Tyler Matzek

Stats: 5 G, 22 IP, 2-1, 4.09 ERA, 1.818 WHIP, 5.95 FIP, 115 ERA+, 6.1 K/9, 7.8 BB/9, -0.1 WAR

Big Moment: April 10, Matzek is the home opening day starter for the Rockies. His performance that day wasn’t as good as his next start, where he pitched six innings, allowing only one run. However, the fact that the 24-year old with only 110 days in the big leagues would be considered to pitch on home opening day tells you a lot about him.

Season Recap: Combining Matzek’s last seven starts from 2014, and his first four from 2015, he went on an 11 start stretch where he pitched at least five innings in each start and allowed three or fewer runs in each start. This is one of the best runs for a pitcher in Rockies history. It’s not surprising that it came from Matzek, the former first-round pick is highly talented, and when he has his head straight, he can be a top of the rotation guy.

Matzek’s struggles have been well documented, he was sent home as a minor leaguer to work on his mechanics with his high school pitching coach and after his May 6th start this season, he was sent to Albuquerque. There he still couldn’t find the strike zone in the one start he made. Matzek was then given a break from baseball before going to extended spring training, then he headed off to Boise to make three starts. After Bosie, he took another break, and finally he finished the season as a reliever in Albuquerque. This season was a huge disappointment for everyone considering the Rockies had finally found a good, homegrown starter who had some success in the majors.

What’s Ahead: At this point the Rockies are telling him to take it easy this winter before he ramps it back up in February. He will be stretched back out to be a starter and compete for a spot in the rotation. If he is back to form, he will easily get a spot as a starter. Right now, anything the Rockies get from Matzek would be a bonus, he has gone through so much, and it’s remarkable that he is still in the game. Don’t get me wrong he is a great talent, and if he is pitching to his talent the Rockies will certainly utilize him a lot.