Tyler Matzek is a beloved member of the Atlanta Braves, and he's proving why yet again with the news about how he's turning an awkward encounter into an incredible moment.
The reliever quickly became a fan favorite for Braves fans last season during their run to the World Series. He made himself easy to cheer for after dealing with a case of "yips" earlier in his career, then proceeded to turn in one of the more memorable runs in Braves history. He was electric on the mound and made a habit of coming in huge spots to slam the door on opponents.
Most notable was his performance in Game 6 of the NLCS when Matzek came in a tight spot in the top of the 7th inning. With runners on second and third and no outs, Matzek sat down three straight Dodgers (including former MVPs Mookie Betts and Albert Pujols) in a sequence that still gives Braves fans goosebumps.
This was one of the pinnacle moments of the playoff run, but one that apparently went unnoticed by one police officer in a strange moment during the World Series Parade last November. The Braves reliever was running amongst the buses giving high-fives to onlookers before a Marietta officer mistook him for a fan and attempted to restrain him.
The video, of course, went viral and the officer was made out to be a bad guy by the Internet. We now know that's not exactly how it went after Matzek made an appearance with The Chris Rose Rotation.
He explained that he wasn't supposed to be down on the street and that he was also supposed to be wearing his credential (you can see in the video where he attempts to reach for it). He goes on to say that the officer did nothing wrong and was just trying to keep the team safe.
Matzek is taking amends a step further, though. Matzek said that the officer will be joining him on a personal invitation to Truist Park on Friday while the team is playing in Cincinnati versus the Reds. The two will officially meet and the officer will get to tour the clubhouse.
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This is an awesome gesture from Tyler Matzek and just another reason why he's so beloved by Braves fans everywhere.