Brian Matusz (born February 11, 1987 – died January 6, 2025), was an American professional baseball pitcher in the Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Baltimore Orioles and the Chicago Cubs from 2009 to 2016.
Early Life and Amateur Career
A born left handed pitcher, Brian Matusz was born in Grand Junction, Colorado and was an outstanding pitcher at St. Mary’s High School in Phoenix, Arizona. He was a standout pitcher for college baseball on the University of San Diego Toreros. He won West Coast Conference Pitcher of the Year in 2008 at the same time that he was a finalist for the Roger Clemens Award. The 12–2 mark allowed, the 1.71 ERA and the 141 strikeouts to top the NCAA all left him, though.
Professional Career
- Matusz was taken in the fourth overall pick of the MLB Draft by the Baltimore Orioles in 2008. On August 4, 2009, he made his MLB debut starting and winning his first and first career starting win. At his rookie season, he got 5–2 win-loss record and 4.63 ERA.
- He bested 2010 with 10 wins, 143 strikeouts and made Baseball America’s All Rookie Team. Although he stumbled in 2011, he had a 1–9 record with a 10.69 ERA, still the highest ever posted by a player with at least 40 innings thrown in a season.
- In 2011, he was switched to the relief pitcher role by the Orioles, and he proved to be a success. He had an ERA of 3.53 or less in each of the seasons of 2013 to 2015, and he recorded 58 or more games in each.
- Matusz was never afforded the chance to play with the Orioles and was traded to the Atlanta Braves in May 2016 to be traded. He was then signed by the Chicago Cubs after, and made one start there on July 31, 2016 before been designated for assignment. Even though he was on the Cubs only a short time, they allowed him into their celebration with a World Series ring when the Cubs won that season.
Later Career and Personal Life
- After his major league career, Matusz played in the Arizona Diamondbacks’ Triple A team, the Mexican League’s Acereros de Monclova, and the Long Island Ducks a part of Atlantic League before retiring from professional baseball in 2019.
- Matusz died at age 37 January 6, 2025 in Phoenix Ariz. As they remembered him as a cherished teammate with a passion for baseball and the community, the Orioles conveyed their condolences.
Net Worth
- The figures of Matusz’s net worth are yet to be disclosed and his MLB contracts can tell us how much. In January 2013, the Orioles signed him to a one year deal for $1.6 million. The following year, he had a contract for $2.4 million. In 2015, the Orioles gave him a $3.2 million dollar contract. However, these and his other professional engagements reveal that he earned quite a number of million dollars playing.
- We advance Brian Matusz career from early promise to challenge, resilience and beyond. From his journey through professional baseball, teammates, fans and the baseball community at large were impressed.