According to multiple reports, Brian Matusz, a former first-round draft pick by the Baltimore Orioles who spent eight years in the majors as a pitcher, died on Tuesday.
He was 37 years old. No cause of death was given.
Matusz made 279 of his 280 career appearances with the Orioles, who wrote a heartfelt tribute to the pitcher on social media.
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
“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.
In 2008, the Orioles selected Matusz with the fourth overall pick in the first round of the MLB draft.
After a little less than a full season in the minors, Matusz made his big league debut on Aug. 4, 2009, throwing five innings in a win against the Tigers.
He threw a career-high 32 starts in 2010, finishing fifth in the American League Rookie of the Year voting.
From 2013-15, he appeared in at least 58 games with an ERA of 3.53 or lower.
Matusz made one final big league appearance with the World Series-winning Cubs in 2016 before pitching with the Triple-A Reno Aces (Arizona Diamondbacks affiliate) the following season.
He last pitched professionally with the Long Island Ducks of the Atlantic League after a stint in Mexico