Former Baltimore Orioles player Brian Matusz died Tuesday at the age of 37.
His death was reported by the Orioles in a statement issued the same day, but the circumstances surrounding his passing were not disclosed.
“Our hearts are heavy tonight as we mourn the passing of former Oriole, Brian Matusz,” the team wrote on X. “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.”
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… pic.twitter.com/wNN3WkO8l4
— Baltimore Orioles (@Orioles) January 8, 2025
BALTIMORE, MD – MAY 1: Brian Matusz #17 of the Baltimore Orioles pitches in the ninth inning against the Chicago White Sox at Oriole Park at Camden Yards on May 1, 2016 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Matt Hazlett/Getty Images)
Matusz played with the Orioles from 2009 to 2016 and was a beloved member of their community.
Mid-Atlantic Sports Network’s Roch Kubatko was the the first to disclose the date that Matusz passed away.
“Very sad to hear that former #orioles pitcher Brian Matusz passed away this morning. Was 37. 4th-overall pick in 2008 draft,” he wrote to X on J
Very sad to hear that former #orioles pitcher Brian Matusz passed away this morning. Was 37. 4th-overall pick in 2008 draft.
— Roch Kubatko (@masnRoch) January 8, 2025
Matusz was a talented left-handed pitcher who was first drafted by the Los Angeles Angels in the fourth round of the 2005 MLB Draft. However, he opted to play baseball at the University of San Diego, where he remained for three years. The university recognized him Wednesday.
Matusz was a finalist for the Golden Spikes Award twice, and was recognized as the school’s all-time leader for strikeouts (396). Among his many accolades, he won West Coast Conference Pitcher of the Year in 2008, and was the fourth overall pick in the 2008 MLB Draft. Matusz made his MLB debut in August 2009.
He pitched in 280 regular season games throughout his career, and also pitched for two Orioles’ Postseason teams in 2012 and 2014.
SCOTTSDALE, AZ – FEBRUARY 21: Pitcher Brian Matusz #15 of the Arizona Diamondbacks poses for a portrait during photo day at Salt River Fields at Talking Stick on February 21, 2017 in Scottsdale, Arizona. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
Matusz’ overall ERA was 4.92.
He was traded to the Atlanta Braves in May 2016, where he remained for one week. He was then signed with the Cubs, where he started for one big league game. (RELATED: Famous Actress Aubrey Plaza Speaks Out About Cause Of Husband’s Death)
Matusz pitched for the Arizona Diamondbacks’ Triple-A team in 2017 and made a start in the Mexican League before concluding his pro baseball career with the Long Island Ducks in 2019.
Fans and friends have taken to social media to pay tribute to the athlete as those closest to him come to terms with this tragic loss.
This article was originally published at dailycaller.com
