Former Baltimore Orioles left-hander Brian Matusz, the No. 4 overall pick in the 2008 MLB Draft, passed away Tuesday at the age of 37. Matusz, who spent nearly his entire eight-year career with the Orioles, appeared in 279 games for the team, starting 68 of them. His only other major league appearance was a three-inning start with the Chicago Cubs on July 31, 2016.
The Orioles paid tribute to Matusz in a statement, calling him a "staple in our clubhouse from 2009-16" who was "beloved throughout Birdland." They added, "His passion for baseball and our community was unmatched. He dedicated his time to connecting with any fan he could, was a cherished teammate, and always had a smile on his face."
The cause of Matusz's death has not been revealed.
Matusz, who transitioned into a reliever, gained notable recognition for his success against Hall of Famer David Ortiz. Ortiz hit just .138 (4-for-29) with 13 strikeouts in his career matchups against Matusz.
He played in both the 2012 and 2014 postseason for the Orioles.
In May 2016, Baltimore traded Matusz to the Braves, where he posted a 12.00 ERA over seven appearances. The Braves released him a week later, and Matusz subsequently signed with the Cubs, where he spent time in the minors with one brief major league start. His career on the mound concluded in 2019.
Matusz was initially selected by the Los Angeles Angels in the fourth round of the 2005 draft. However, he chose to attend the University of San Diego, where he earned West Coast Conference Pitcher of the Year honors and was a two-time finalist for the Golden Spikes Award. By the end of his college career, he had set the school record for most strikeouts, totaling 396.
He would have turned 38 on February 11.
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