Former Major League pitcher Brian Matus has died at the age of 37, according to reports.
His cause of death has not been made public, but fox news Reported.
“A fixture in the clubhouse from 2009 to 2016, Brian was beloved throughout Birdland and his passion for baseball and our community was unparalleled. He strived to connect with every fan in any way he could. He dedicated his time to the community, was a valued teammate, and always had a smile on his face,” the Orioles said in a post to X on Wednesday.
“Our thoughts and prayers are with Brian's family and loved ones during this difficult time.”
Matusch pitched in 279 games for the Orioles and spent most of his seven-year MLB career in Baltimore.
The Orioles selected the Colorado native in the first round, fourth overall, in the 2008 MLB Draft. He then moved to Single-A, but soon became the starting pitcher for the Double-A Bowie Baysox. He was promoted to the major leagues the following year and made his debut with the Orioles in August 2009.
The University of San Diego product started a career-high 32 games in 2010 and finished fifth in American League Rookie of the Year voting.
However, after missing two months of the 2011 season, he was demoted to the bullpen. By the 2015 season, he had an ERA of 2.94. He was traded to the Atlanta Braves in early 2016, but later signed with the Chicago Cubs, where he appeared in only one game.
He attempted to continue playing baseball in 2017, joining the Triple-A Reno Aces (Diamondbacks). He also played one season in Mexico and pitched in his final professional game with the Long Island Ducks of the Atlantic League in 2019.
In 2022, Matusz served as the New Zealand National Team's bullpen coach prior to that year's World Baseball Classic.
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