ABOUT
Brian Robert Matusz was an American professional baseball pitcher. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Baltimore Orioles and Chicago Cubs from 2009 to 2016. The Baltimore Orioles selected Matusz in the first round of the 2008 MLB Draft, with the fourth overall pick. He started as a pitcher but transitioned to the bullpen during the stretch of the 2012 season. That same season, the Orioles secured a wild-card spot, making their first postseason appearance in 15 years.
Matusz passed away on January 7, 2025. The Baltimore Orioles, in their statement announcing his death, did not disclose an official cause of death.
Personal Life
Brian Matusz was born on February 11, 1987, in Colorado, United States. He completed his schooling at St. Mary’s High School in Phoenix. In 2005, he graduated in Arizona and later enrolled at the University of San Diego. There, he played college baseball as a starting pitcher for the San Diego Toreros.
Brian was a professional American baseball player. From 2009 to 2016, he played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Baltimore Orioles and the Chicago Cubs.
A brief summary of Brian Mathes’s career
In 2008, Matusz was nominated for the West Coast Conference Pitcher of the Year award and as a finalist for the Roger Clemens Award. The Baltimore Orioles selected Matusz with the fourth overall pick in the first round. In the spring of 2009, he was invited to the Orioles’ spring training.
Matusz was named the 9th best overall prospect at the midseason point by Baseball America in 2009. He made his MLB debut on August 4, 2009, against the Detroit Tigers. Before the 2010 season, Baseball America ranked him as the fifth-best prospect in all of baseball. Matusz missed the first two months of the 2011 season due to injury. He began the 2012 season in the rotation but was demoted to the bullpen in August.
In 2013, Matusz transitioned to a full-time reliever, appearing in 65 games. On May 23, 2015, Matusz was ejected in the 12th inning of a game against the Miami Marlins for having a foreign substance on his right arm. That week, he was the second pitcher to be ejected for a foreign substance. He was suspended for eight games.
On May 23, 2016, the Orioles traded Matusz and the 76th pick in the 2016 MLB Draft to the Atlanta Braves in exchange for minor league pitchers Brandon Barker and Trevor Belicek. On June 15, 2016, the Chicago Cubs signed Matusz to a minor league contract.
On February 13, 2017, Matusz signed a minor league deal with the Arizona Diamondbacks. On July 23, 2019, Matusz signed with the Mexican League’s Acereros de Monclova. On August 2, 2019, Matusz signed with the Long Island Ducks of the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball.
Brian Matusz’s Uniform Number
Brian Matusz wore different numbers throughout his career while playing for various teams:
#17 with the Baltimore Orioles (2009–2016) as a pitcher.
#16 with the Chesapeake Baysox (Minor League, 2008–2009), serving as a pitcher.
#27 with the Frederick Keys (Minor League, 2008–2009), also as a pitcher.
#15 with the Chicago Cubs (2016), pitching for the team.
#11 with the Iowa Cubs (Minor League, 2016), continuing as a pitcher.
Statements of Brian Matusz’s Death
San Diego coach Brock Ungricht said:
“Brian was one of the best players to ever wear a Torero uniform,”
“His dedication to the USD community and passion for the game of baseball were evident to all who knew him. Brian’s unexpected passing leaves a void in our hearts, but his legacy will continue to inspire us, both on and off the field. We will forever be grateful for his friendship and unwavering support of San Diego baseball.”
The Orioles said:
“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.”” the Orioles said in a statement. “He dedicated his time to connecting with any fan he could, was a cherished teammate and always had a smile on his face.”
Cautions of Brian Matusz’s Death
Oriole and the University of San Diego announced Matusz’s death on Tuesday night. USD stated that they received a message from Matusz’s family. However, the cause of death has not been disclosed yet
