The Toronto Blue Jays‘ new pitching acquisition Steven Matz is well aware his 2020 campaign with the New York Mets did not go as planned.
In terms of exactly what went wrong last season, the Mets’ 2009 second-round pick explained it was more a culmination of issues, rather than one thing in particular.
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“Well last year I just got away from some of the things I normally do well,” Matz said Monday in an appearance on Sportsnet 590 The FAN’s Baseball Central show, which is back for another season and airs weekdays at 2 p.m. ET. “I’m not really sure to put my finger on one thing, but my velocity started going up a little bit and my misses were really big.
“Command is a big deal,” added the left-hander, who was acquired by Toronto in an off-season trade. “I just got a little erratic last year and it definitely hurt me.”
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But 2020 is in the past, and with the help of Blue Jays pitching coach Pete Walker, Matz is primed for a bounce-back season with Toronto in 2021.
“I came into camp feeling good, feeling healthy,” Matz explained. “Being able to work with Pete a little bit, and some of the things I have been able to implement with him, I just feel really confident and am excited to get the season going.”
The left-hander has impressed in spring training with the Blue Jays, with a 2-0 record over four starts, including an commanding 1.76 ERA.
Where exactly Matz fits in the Blue Jays’ rotation remains to be seen, but with the early impression he has left on manager Charlie Montoyo, he will definitely be an integral piece to the puzzle.
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