Former Orioles pitcher Brian Matusz has died at age 37, team announces

Former Baltimore Orioles pitcher Brian Matusz has died at age 37, the team announced Tuesday. Matusz, a former first-round pick, played for the Orioles from 2009 until 2016.

In a social media post, the team described Matusz as “a staple in our clubhouse” and praised him for his passion for baseball and the Baltimore community.

“He dedicated his time to connecting with any fan he could, was a cherished teammate, and always had a smile on his face,” the team wrote in the post.

Matusz, a Colorado native, was originally drafted by the Los Angeles Angels in the fourth round of the 2005 MLB Draft, but opted to play baseball at the University of San Diego. He was then selected by Baltimore fourth overall in the 2008 MLB Draft. Matusz made his MLB debut in August 2009, and spent seven seasons in the Orioles’ bullpen.

Matusz played in 280 games for the Orioles from 2009-2016, with an overall ERA of 4.92.

After being traded by the team in 2016 and quickly released by the Atlanta Braves, Matusz played briefly for the Chicago Cubs in 2016. His final MLB game — on July 31, 2016, where he started — qualified him to receive a World Series championship ring when the Cubs won it all that season.