Brian Matus, a first-round draft pick of the Orioles who spent eight years in the majors as a pitcher, died on Tuesday.
He was 37 years old. The cause of death has not been disclosed.
The left-handed pitcher played in 279 of 280 career games with the Orioles and posted a heartfelt tribute on social media.
“Our hearts are heavy tonight as we mourn the passing of former Orioles Brian Matusch,” the team wrote in X. “A fixture in the clubhouse from 2009 to 2016, Brian was loved throughout Birdland and his passion for baseball and our community was one of a kind.” He dedicated his time to connecting with every fan he could, was a valued teammate, and always had a smile on his face.
“Our thoughts and prayers are with Brian's family and loved ones during this difficult time.”
Matusch, a Colorado native, starred at the University of San Diego and won the 2008 West Coast Conference Pitcher of the Year Award.
That same year, the Orioles selected him with the fourth overall pick in the first round of the MLB Draft.
After less than a full season in the minors, Matusch made his major league debut on August 4, 2009, pitching five innings in a win over the Tigers.
He started a career-high 32 games in 2010 and finished fifth in American League Rookie of the Year voting.
He was transferred to the bullpen late in the 2012 season and eventually became a mainstay in the Orioles' relief corps.
He appeared in at least 58 games in each season from 2013 to 2015 and posted an ERA of 3.53 or lower.
Matusch made his last major league appearance with the Cubs, who won the World Series in 2016, and pitched for the Triple-A Reno Aces (Diamondbacks) the following season.
He last pitched professionally for the Long Island Ducks of the Atlantic League after a stint in Mexico.
