NL DIVISION SERIES: PHILLIES VS BRAVES

October 11, 2022

Kyle Wright

Truist Park

Atlanta Braves

Pregame 1 Press Conference

Q. Given last year's postseason and this year's regular season, how much different did you feel today than you would have a year ago entering a Game 2 start?

KYLE WRIGHT: Definitely feel a lot more confident for sure. I think I learned a lot from last year. And then I've continued to learn more about myself this year. So I feel like I know who I am.

And, yeah, it's a whole lot more confident. I think even last year in the World Series there were a couple of questions -- can I still do this? And after my first outing I felt I did. And I've continued to build off of that, and here we are.

Q. If there was somebody, a pitcher now who is in the position you were in last year, maybe had some doubts or didn't know if they would make it to where you are, what would your message to them be?

KYLE WRIGHT: I think that you're just never as far as you think you are. I feel like I was -- when I was struggling, I got to as low as I did, I felt like where I'm at now was forever away. And really it wasn't.

It was just a couple tweaks here, doing some mental work. Next, a couple of months kind of go by, I get my footing back, pitched well in Triple-A. Got the opportunity in the World Series and took that to spring training and here I am now.

So that's what I think it is. You're just never that far away. You're always just that one little tweak, whether it's physically, mentally -- I think for me it was both -- from a turnaround. I think you've just got to keep pushing. It's pretty cliché, but still pretty true, just keep going. You're not that far.

Q. How much of a point of pride is that for you to be one of those turnaround stories people can look at?

KYLE WRIGHT: It is cool. I wish I would have got it going a lot sooner and I didn't have to do this. But for me it just makes me proud.

A lot of good people in my life that helped me get there -- family, friends, coaches. I really didn't do it myself. So I can't take really all the credit or really any of the credit. But it's very satisfying to know that I made the turnaround that I did.

Q. Bigger picture, you've been a part of each one of these clubs that's won the division over the past five years. You played with a lot of these guys coming up through the minor leagues. What's the journey been like for you guys to go from young players to world champions last year and once again trying to do that again this year?

KYLE WRIGHT: It's really fun. I feel like I've gotten to know a lot of these guys since I first got drafted by the Braves. So kind of came up with a big group of them. It's been a lot of fun because we're a close-knit group.

And the guys we've acquired or gotten over the years or gotten this year, I feel have just fit right in. Feel like I've known them forever.

I can point to Matt Olson. The second he got in the locker room felt like he fit right in. He's a great guy.

That says a lot about what Alex tries to do here. And that's get good guys, good character. And I feel like that really helps us grow as a team. And I feel like we should have a lot more fun because of it.

Q. Do you feel like a pitcher has the advantage when facing a division rival in the postseason?

KYLE WRIGHT: I feel it can go both ways. We know them but they know us at the same time. So it really comes down to who executes better I think. Ideally I execute better than they do. But you never know.

So they're a really good team. Have a really good lineup. A lot of experience over there. So it's going to be a tough challenge for sure, but just kind have to stay within my plan and control what I can control and kind of whatever happens from there happens.

Q. Another one of your teammates got locked up yesterday. I'm sure you're happy for him. What's that like among you guys? It feels really unusual in this day and age. I'm sure you guys kind of feel the same way. What's the chatter like among teammates when this keeps happening with this organization?

KYLE WRIGHT: I think it's just really exciting, knowing that you have a chance to play with guys for a long period of time. I feel like that's a really important thing that sometimes I think gets undervalued. So I think knowing that there's a good core group who is going to be here for a long period of time. And, again, it's a lot of high-character guys, great people. I think that is a big part of it.

But it's really exciting to be a part of the Braves and knowing that there's a good core group for a long period of time. We're just so happy for everybody that got these extensions. It's more than deserving.

It's just a really, really exciting time anytime somebody else can get locked up here for a long period of time.

Q. Snit kind of told us about Tyler Matzek a few minutes ago. I know he was such a huge part of the run last year. And, Kyle, you know how big bullpens are in the postseason. From a year ago to now, how has Dylan Lee been able to kind of solidify himself as a guy who can take over some of those high-leverage innings and help out?

KYLE WRIGHT: For me, it started -- I first got to know Dylan last year in Triple-A. And we were, at the time, we were at the alt site and he was still in spring training, and he was one of the few pitchers that came up to join us.

His first outing he was incredible. I think he struck out the side and got all types of swings and misses.

That's when you first realized, this guy's pretty good. And then he just kept doing that outing after outing. Got called up this year and has continued to do that.

So mentally, he's just tough as nails, I think. The game just doesn't phase him. He slows it down really well. He trusts his stuff. It's not overpowering, 90 to 93, but he commands it really well and he throws it with just a little bit of extra to it, I guess. And he's got a great offspeed slider and change-up.

He knows his game. He trusts it and he's fearless. And I think that's why he's been able to pitch the way he has and pitch in those high-leverage innings.

Q. As a teammate, how much do you just kind of hurt for Tyler and what he's going through at this point?

KYLE WRIGHT: It sucks. He's such a huge piece to this team, not just on the field but off the field too. He's a great teammate. His experiences, I think, has helped me a lot just knowing what he's gone through and how he's been able to come back.

For me, I've learned a lot from Matzek. You really hate it for him. It sucks, hopefully he can get better soon. But it sucks. You know how much fun he had in the postseason last year. He was a ton of fun to watch every time he took the mound. It just felt a little bit different.

You hate it for him but he's still going to be playing a part of this. He's just going to continue to be a good teammate and he's going to kind of be there for us. He may not be playing, but he's still going to make an impact for sure.

Q. You've said this throughout the year, but besides confidence, what adjustment can you point to that's got you to this point?

KYLE WRIGHT: I made some mechanical changes. That's kind of been a big one. I've also started to use my curveball more. Those two paired together has then kind of allowed me -- my command's gotten better. All my stuff, numbers-wise, has improved.

It's just really a mix of a lot of that together, which has allowed me to attack more, throwing more strikes instead of walking guys or falling behind. And then I think on the mental side of it I just learned to trust myself and understand who I am as a pitcher.

And I've really bought into the "one pitch away." That's something I've worked with our mental performance coach, Zach Sorensen -- one pitch, this pitch.

It's something that's really hard to do just because it's easy to kind of fall into the trap of looking too far ahead. So I think whenever the game starts to speed up to me that's what I buy into and knowing you're one pitch away from a double play, a popup, whatever it may be, or just a strike.

So that's been the big part for me mentally that I've bought into pretty heavily. We still work on that a lot, talk about it a lot. Kind of of the marriage of those two things has been big for me.

Q. What makes Zack Wheeler such a great pitcher?

KYLE WRIGHT: Everything. He commands really well. He obviously throws really hard. Great slider. He has a big presence. He attacks the strike zone. He's a lot of fun to watch pitch, but you hate facing him.

Really can't say enough good things about him. I feel like we've gotten to see him pitch now four or five times this year. And I feel he's looked good every time.

So obviously we've got to worry about tonight. But it's going to be a grind against him tomorrow too. He's got great stuff and it's going to be a battle.

Q. Did you watch much of the Wild Card series?

KYLE WRIGHT: Not really. I watched bits and pieces. I tried to watch all the games when I could. But I really tried to enjoy some time with my wife and play golf and just enjoy a little bit of time off, help recover and get back.

I was able to watch bits and pieces. But tried to just to enjoy those off days and kind of hit the mental reset a little bit.

Q. Of the bits and pieces that you did watch, did you find any, draw any inspirations from the pitching performances at all? It's okay if you didn't.

KYLE WRIGHT: I don't think so. There's a ton of talented pitchers that pitched in that Wild Card. I don't know if I'm necessarily surprised with how well those guys pitched because there's so good and so talented.

But any time you're not playing that team and you see someone go out there and pitch really well, it's fun to watch. And I think it's just great for our game to see guys go out there and compete and go deep into a ball game and give their team a chance to win.

Like I said, as long as it's not against your team it's fun to watch. And I guess you can get a little bit from it.

Q. As a rookie, how impressive have you been with Spencer Strider, and how important is it to get him back for the NLDS?

KYLE WRIGHT: He has just a huge presence. I hope I'm not butchering this. I think he's 22 years old. But it's like he's 30. He's just very mature. He's an old soul. He knows his game really well which is attack with the fastball and then pitch off that.

And he has a big presence. It's hard to say enough good things about him because I think you really do forget that he's a rookie sometimes because of how well he pitches, how much he attacks and just the year he's had. He's already broken however many records in his rookie year which is kind of hard to even fathom that someone his age can do that.

Can't say enough good things about him. And getting him back healthy and back on the roster is huge for us. And it's definitely a big pickup. So excited to watch him do his thing.

Q. I doubt you have to say anything because it seems like every big moment your rookies have, like you said, Strider, have showed up and competed. But if you had any advice for Michael Harris who is stepping on the stage for the first time or Vaughn Grissom, what would it be?

KYLE WRIGHT: I feel like it's just staying within yourself. It is a bigger game. It's higher stakes, but at the end of the day, it is still just another baseball game. I think it's hard to really buy into that just because the stakes are so much higher. But it's what it is. Just gotta stay within yourself.

I think a big thing is you don't necessarily have to be the hero. Just find a way to make a play, get on base. And then the big hits will come, the big plays will come just because he has naturally gifted talent, natural ability that's going to take over, so he just needs to let that ability shine, I think.