Police report says former MLB pitcher Brian Matusz died at 37 of likely overdose
Former Baltimore Orioles pitcher Brian Matusz died at age 37 after an apparent drug overdose, police documents show.
The Orioles announced Matusz’s death last week. This is evident from a report from the Phoenix Police Department obtained by the Baltimore BannerMatusz’s body was found on January 6 by his mother, Elizabeth, after she went to his home to check on him. A lighter, a straw and a small square of aluminum foil, often used for taking drugs, were near his body. According to the report, police are not treating the death as suspicious.
According to the report, Elizabeth Matusz had taken her son to the emergency room a few days before she found his body. He was advised to seek mental health treatment after discharge. According to the report, Brian Matusz had a history of substance abuse but had been clean in the eight months prior to his death.
“Our hearts are heavy tonight as we mourn the passing of former Oriole, Brian Matusz,” the team said in a statement last week. “Brian was a fixture in our clubhouse from 2009 to 2016 and was loved throughout Birdland, and his passion for baseball and our community was unparalleled. He dedicated his time to connecting with every fan he could, was a beloved teammate and always had a smile on his face. Brian’s family and loved ones are in our thoughts and prayers during this difficult time.”
His former teammate Matt Hobgood remembered Matusz’s kindness. “This is terrible. He was one of the first people to call me after I signed [for the Orioles],” Hobgood wrote on social media. “He took the time to call, encourage me and wish me the best in my career and it always meant a lot that he did that. RIP, my friend.”
Baltimore selected Matusz with the No. 4 overall pick in the 2008 draft after he was named West Coast Conference Pitcher of the Year during his time at the University of San Diego. He made his MLB debut in August 2009, winning his first start against the Detroit Tigers. He also made Baseball America’s All-Rookie Team in 2010.
Over the next few years, he was moved to the bullpen, where he often excelled, and was eventually traded to the Atlanta Braves in 2016. He won a World Series ring that season after being picked up by the Chicago Cubs.
Matusz’s last connection with an MLB team came in 2017 when he signed a minor league deal with the Arizona Diamondbacks, a move he said fulfilled “a childhood dream” after growing up in Phoenix.