The Baltimore Orioles announced that their former pitcher Brian Matusz has died at the age of 37. The Orioles said Matusz died Tuesday; his cause of death was not disclosed.
The Orioles statement on X reads: “Our hearts are heavy tonight as we mourn the passing of former Oriole, Brian Matusz. A staple in our clubhouse from 2009-2016, Brian was beloved throughout Birdland, and 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. Brian’s family and loved ones are in our thoughts and prayers at this difficult time.”
The left-handed pitcher played at the University of San Diego where he was the West Coast Conference Pitcher of the Year in 2008, leading him to be the fourth overall pick of that June’s MLB Draft by Baltimore. San Diego baseball head coach Brock Ungricht said in a news release: “Brian was one of the best players to ever wear a Torero uniform. His dedication to the USD community and passion for the game of baseball were evident to all who knew him. Brian’s unexpected passing leaves a void in our hearts, but his legacy will continue to inspire us, both on and off the field. We will forever be grateful for his friendship and unwavering support of San Diego baseball. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family.”
Matusz began his eight-year-long MLB career in 2009 with Baltimore, where he began his career as a starter. His best season as a starting pitcher came in 2010, when he went 10-12 with a 4.30 ERA over 32 starts. Matusz found more success later as a relief pitcher, appearing in 186 games out of Baltimore’s bullpen between 2013-2015. He posted a career-best 2.94 ERA over 58 relief appearances in 2015 for the Orioles. Matusz finished up his career pitching in one game for the 2016 Chicago Cubs, who went on to win the World Series that fall for the first time since 1908.
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