The Major League Baseball world is mourning the loss of a beloved athlete.
Brian Matusz, former pitcher for the Baltimore Orioles has died, the team confirmed. He was 37.
“Our hearts are heavy tonight as we mourn the passing of former Oriole, Brian Matusz,” the statement shared on the team’s X (formally known as Twitter) account read Jan. 7. “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,” the organization continued in its statement, posted alongside a photo of the late athlete posing with young fans, “Brian’s family and loved ones are in our thoughts and prayers at this difficult time.”
His cause of death has not been shared.
In addition to the team he spent the majoritiy of his professional career with, the MLB reflected on Brian’s legacy on the mound.
“We are devastated to learn of the passing of former Major League pitcher Brian Matusz,” read the statement shared to X. “Matusz, the No. 4 overall pick in the 2008 MLB Draft, spent a majority of his eight seasons with the Orioles. He won his Major League debut on August 4, 2009, as he gave up just one run in five innings."
“Matusz pitched in 280 regular season games throughout his career, starting in 69 of them,” the statement continued. “He pitched for two Orioles’ Postseason teams (2012 and 2014), making seven total Postseason appearances out of the bullpen. He made his last Major League appearance with the Cubs in 2016.”
Brian—a left-handed pitcher—was drafted by the Los Angeles Angels in 2005. However, he opted to continue to play on a collegiate level for the University of San Diego where he was the winner of the Golden Spikes Awards for being an all-time leader in strike outs.
After playing at USD for three years, Brian was the fourth overall draft pick in 2008, before making his MLB debut in 2009 for the Orioles, where he was a member of the franchise until 2016.
After a brief stint with the Chicago Cubs the same year, his MLB career came to an end. But he continued his pursuit of professional baseball as In 2017, he pitched for the Arizona Diamondbacks' Triple-A team, and briefly played for the Mexican league. In 2019, Brian ended his baseball career after playing for the Long Island Ducks.