Former MLB pitcher Brian Matusz, best known for his time with the Baltimore Orioles, passed away at the age of 37, the league confirmed on Wednesday morning. The cause of death has not been disclosed.
A native of Grand Junction, Colorado, Matusz had an impressive college career at the University of San Diego before being selected as the No. 4 overall pick in the 2008 MLB Draft. He made his major league debut on August 4, 2009, against the Detroit Tigers, where he struck out five batters in five innings while allowing just one run.
Over his eight-season career, Matusz played in 280 games, with all but one of those appearances coming for the Orioles, posting a 4.92 ERA. His lone game with the Chicago Cubs came on July 31, 2016, in a three-inning start for the eventual World Series champions. Fans may also remember Matusz for his dominance against Hall of Famer David Ortiz, limiting the slugger to a .138 batting average and recording 13 strikeouts in their matchups.
Matusz was part of the Orioles teams that made the postseason in 2012 and 2014. The Orioles issued a statement following his passing.
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