According to his longtime club on Tuesday, former Baltimore Orioles pitcher Brian Matusz, a first-round draft selection and well-liked teammate who won a World Series ring with the Chicago Cubs, passed away at the age of 37.
Matusz’s cause of death was not immediately made public.
The left-handed pitcher was selected fourth overall by Baltimore in the June 2008 MLB Draft after winning the West Coast Conference Pitcher of the Year award while attending the University of San Diego.
He was chosen before No. 5 pick Buster Posey, a potential Hall of Fame catcher for the San Francisco Giants, and slightly behind recently retired first baseman Eric Hosmer.
Matusz started his eight-year Major League Baseball career with Baltimore the following spring after making rapid work of the lower leagues.
In 2010, he won a career-high 10 games in 32 starts, which was his best season as a starting pitcher. As a workhorse relief pitcher, Matusz achieved greater success later in his career. From 2013 to 2015, he made 186 appearances out of Baltimore’s bullpen.
Matusz was described by former Baltimore Orioles players as the ideal teammate.
In a statement, retiring Baltimore outfielder Adam Jones stated, “RIP to a good friend and teammate.” “On and off the field, we had some incredible moments. Rest in peace, dear friend. Whoa.
When facing Hall of Fame slugger David Ortiz, the southpaw had an inexplicably dominant career. “Big Papi” only managed four hits, one walk, and no home runs in his thirty plate appearances against Matusz. He also struck out thirteen times.
Matusz pitched in one game for the 2016 Chicago Cubs to wrap out his career. Matusz received a championship ring after the North Siders won the World Series that fall, their first championship since 1908.
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