Brian Matusz, whose remarkable transformation from struggling starter to elite left-handed reliever helped power the Baltimore Orioles to two playoff appearances, died on January 7, 2025, at age 37, the team announced. No cause of death was disclosed.
“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 wrote in a tribute announcement.
The left-handed pitcher’s journey to the majors was marked by early promise. Initially drafted by the Los Angeles Angels in the fourth round of the 2005 MLB Draft, Matusz opted for college baseball, becoming the University of San Diego’s ace. There, he posted a 1.71 ERA in his final season, earned West Coast Conference Pitcher of the Year honors in 2008, and was the fourth overall selection by Baltimore in the 2008 MLB Draft.
Matusz’s major league career began with high expectations in August 2009. His breakthrough came in 2010, when he won a career-high 10 games in 32 starts, striking out 143 batters in 175.2 innings while finishing fifth in American League Rookie of the Year voting. During that season, he ranked among AL rookie leaders in several categories, including starts, strikeouts, and innings pitched.
After struggling with a 10.69 ERA in 2011, Matusz orchestrated one of baseball’s most successful career reinventions. Moving to the bullpen in 2013, he became a cornerstone of Baltimore’s relief corps. From 2013 to 2015, he appeared in 186 games, posting a 3.32 ERA with 9.4 strikeouts per nine innings. Most notably, he became the kryptonite to Boston Red Sox slugger David Ortiz, holding the future Hall of Famer to a .138 batting average with 13 strikeouts in 30 plate appearances.
Matusz played a crucial role in Baltimore’s resurgence, helping the team reach the postseason in 2012 – their first playoff appearance since 1997. In 2014, during the Orioles’ American League East championship season, he appeared in 63 games, maintaining a 3.48 ERA as one of the most reliable left-handed specialists in baseball.
His impact extended beyond the diamond. The Colorado native was nominated for the Roberto Clemente Award in 2015, recognizing his extensive charitable work. He established reading programs in Baltimore elementary schools, regularly visited children’s hospitals, and conducted free baseball clinics in underserved communities. His annual “Strike Out Hunger” initiative provided more than 100,000 meals to Baltimore families in need.
The left-hander appeared in 280 games for the Orioles between 2009 and 2016, recording 460 strikeouts and a 4.92 ERA. After being traded to the Atlanta Braves in 2016, he signed with the Chicago Cubs, making his final major league appearance on July 31, 2016. Though his Cubs tenure lasted just one start, he earned a World Series championship ring when Chicago ended their 108-year title drought that season.
Following his major league career, Matusz continued his baseball journey in the Mexican League with Acereros de Monclova and in the Atlantic League, where he won a championship with the Long Island Ducks before retiring in 2019. His career statistics included 27 wins, 41 saves, and 647.2 innings pitched across eight major league seasons.
