Former Orioles Pitcher Brian Matusz, 37, Dies: Remembering His MLB Legacy

Brian Matusz, a former pitcher for the Baltimore Orioles and the No. 4 overall pick in the 2008 MLB draft, passed away on Tuesday at the age of 37.

Matusz spent the majority of his eight-year MLB career with the Orioles, appearing in 279 games and making 68 starts. He briefly played for the Chicago Cubs in 2016, making a single three-inning start on July 31.

Former Orioles Pitcher Brian Matusz, 37, Dies: Remembering His MLB Legacy

The Orioles honored Matusz in a statement, recalling his time with the team from 2009 to 2016. "Brian was a beloved member of our clubhouse and had a deep passion for both the game of baseball and the community of Birdland," the team said. "He was always eager to connect with fans, was a valued teammate, and consistently had a positive attitude." No details surrounding his cause of death have been made public.

Matusz gained recognition for his dominance against Boston Red Sox legend David Ortiz, who struggled in their matchups, hitting just .138 (4-for-29) with 13 strikeouts against the left-hander. Matusz also contributed to the Orioles' postseason efforts in both 2012 and 2014.

His time in the major leagues began to decline in 2016 when he posted an ERA of 12.00 in seven appearances, leading to a trade to the Atlanta Braves. After being released by Atlanta, he signed with the Cubs, pitching in their minor league system and making one brief MLB start before retiring in 2019.

Matusz was initially selected by the Los Angeles Angels in the fourth round of the 2005 draft but chose to play college baseball at the University of San Diego. During his college career, he was named the West Coast Conference Pitcher of the Year and was a two-time finalist for the prestigious Golden Spikes Award. He finished as the university's all-time strikeout leader with 396. Matusz would have celebrated his 38th birthday on February 11.