Former Baltimore Orioles pitcher Brian Matusz has died at the age of 37 from an apparent drug overdose, according to police documents.
The Orioles announced Matusz’s death last week. According to a report from the Phoenix Police Department obtained by the Baltimore bannerMatusz’s body was found by his mother, Elizabeth, on January 6 after she went to see him at his home. A lighter, straw and a small square of aluminum foil, often used to ingest drugs, were located near his body. The report says police are not treating the death as suspicious.
Related: The Baltimore Orioles announce the death of “cherished teammate” Brian Matusz at the age of 37
The report says Elizabeth Matusz took her son to the emergency room a few days before finding his body. He was advised to undergo mental health treatment after his release. The report states that Brian Matusz had a history of substance abuse, but was sober in the eight months before 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. “A fixture in our clubhouse from 2009-2016, Brian was beloved throughout Birdland, and his passion for baseball and our community was unmatched. He dedicated his time to connecting with every fan possible, was a valuable 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 remembers Matusz’s kindness. “It’s horrible. 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 me, encourage me and wish me good luck in my career and it still meant a lot that he did that RIP, my friend.
Baltimore selected Matusz with the fourth overall pick in the 2008 draft after he was named the 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 was also on Baseball The 2010 American All-Rookie Team.
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 taken over by the Chicago Cubs.
Matusz’s last connection with a MLB The team arrived in 2017 when he signed a minor league contract with the Arizona Diamondbacks, a move he said fulfilled “a childhood dream” after growing up in Phoenix.
