Brian Matusz

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Brian Matusz
File:Brian Matusz 2009 (3x4 cropped).jpg
Pitcher
Born: (1987-02-11)February 11, 1987
Grand Junction, Colorado, U.S.
Died: Script error: The function "death_date_and_age" does not exist.
Phoenix, Arizona, U.S.
Batted: Left Threw: Left
MLB debut
August 4, 2009, for the Baltimore Orioles
Last MLB appearance
July 31, 2016, for the Chicago Cubs
MLB statistics
Win–loss record 27–41
Earned run average 4.92
Strikeouts 462
Teams

Brian Robert Matusz (/ˈmætəs/ MAT-əs; February 11, 1987 – January 6, 2025) was an American professional baseball pitcher. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Baltimore Orioles and the Chicago Cubs from 2009 to 2016.

Amateur career

Matusz attended St. Mary's High School in Phoenix, Arizona, graduating in 2005.[1] He enrolled at the University of San Diego, where he played college baseball for the San Diego Toreros as a starting pitcher. Matusz, Josh Romanski, and Matt Couch anchored the Toreros rotation.[2]

File:Brian Matusz (2450688289).jpg
Matusz pitching for the San Diego Torreros

In 2008, Matusz was named to the West Coast Conference Pitcher of the Year honors and finalist for the Roger Clemens Award.[3]

Professional career

Baltimore Orioles

The Baltimore Orioles selected Matusz in the first round, with the fourth overall selection, in the 2008 MLB draft. Matusz signed a contract with the Orioles on August 15, 2008, the deadline to sign draft picks.[3][4] The Orioles invited him to spring training as a nonroster player in 2009. In June 2009, he was promoted from high Single-A (Frederick Keys) to a starting pitcher for the Double-A Bowie Baysox. He struck out 10 batters in his first start for Bowie on June 17. Matusz was named Baseball America's ninth best overall prospect mid-season in 2009.[5] Before the 2010 season, Baseball America named him the fifth best prospect in all of baseball.[6]

Matusz made his MLB debut on August 4, 2009, against the Detroit Tigers. He went five innings, allowing six hits, one earned run and striking out five. He earned a win in his effort. On September 14, the O's decided to shut him down for the remainder of the season, wary of overextending the rookie in his first big league season.[7] He was named a starting pitcher on Baseball America's 2010 All-Rookie Team.[8]

Matusz missed the first two months of the 2011 season with an injury.[9] He returned and got six starts and finished with a 1–4 record with an ERA above 7.00 before being demoted to Triple-A Norfolk on June 30 to work on his velocity.[10] He was later recalled and continued to struggle, posting a 1–7 record and 9.84 ERA before his removal from the starting rotation in September.[11][12]

Matusz in 2009

Matusz began the 2012 season in the rotation, but was demoted to the bullpen in August. In the bullpen, he excelled, striking out 19 with a 1.35 ERA in 18 appearances. He also did not allow a single inherited runner to score. He pitched the last three months of the season with a rectus abdominis tear, preventing him from sprinting, but not pitching. He had surgery in October to repair the tear, and was expected to be back for spring training.[13] In 2013, Matusz made the transition to full-time reliever, appearing in 65 games. He was 2–1 with a 3.53 ERA for the Orioles.[14][15] On May 23, 2015, he was ejected from the game against the Miami Marlins in the 12th inning for having a foreign substance on his right forearm. He was the second pitcher to be ejected for a foreign substance in that past week. He was suspended for eight games.[16][15] He posted a 2.94 ERA and 10.29 strikeouts per nine innings 58 relief appearances in 2015. On February 4, 2016, Matusz and the Orioles agreed to a one-year deal to avoid arbitration.[17]

On May 23, the Orioles traded Matusz and the 76th pick in the 2016 Major League Baseball draft to the Atlanta Braves in return for minor league pitchers Brandon Barker and Trevor Belicek. The Braves designated Matusz for assignment shortly after completing the trade.[18]

Chicago Cubs

On June 15, 2016, the Chicago Cubs signed Matusz to a minor league contract. After being employed solely as a reliever since 2012, the Cubs assigned him to be a starter in the minors. On July 30, 2016, the Cubs called him up to start against the Seattle Mariners on July 31.[19] However, after a poor outing in the game, the Cubs designated him for assignment the very next day.[20] He cleared waivers later and was outrighted to the Triple-A Iowa Cubs.[21] Despite only appearing in one game for the Cubs during their 2016 World Series season, he was given a World Series ring.[22] Matusz elected free agency following the season on November 7.[23]

Later career

On February 13, 2017, Matusz signed a minor league contract with the Arizona Diamondbacks.[24] In 11 games for the Triple–A Reno Aces, he struggled to a 6.11 ERA with 13 strikeouts across ​17 2⁄3 innings pitched. On May 16, he was released by the Diamondbacks.[25]

On July 23, 2019, Matusz signed with the Acereros de Monclova of the Mexican League.[26] He made one start, going three innings while allowing five hits and five earned runs (15.00 ERA) with three walks and two strikeouts.[27] On August 2, 2019, he signed with the Long Island Ducks of the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball.[28][29] In ​46 2⁄3 innings across nine starts, he went 2–3 with a 4.05 ERA and 45 strikeouts.[30]

Personal life and death

Matusz's brother, Chris, played college baseball at Iowa Wesleyan University.[31]

Matusz died in Phoenix on January 6, 2025, at the age of 37, due to a drug overdose.[32][33]

References

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External links

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