The passing of ex-Baltimore Orioles pitcher Brian Matusz was unexpected, occurring at the age of just 37.
On Monday, outlets such as the Baltimore Sun reported and disclosed the reason for death. His death was even more sorrowful considering the situation.
The Sun disclosed that Matusz probably passed away from a drug overdose on January 7, based on a report submitted by the Phoenix police department.
The report indicated that Matusz was discovered on the sofa of his Arizona residence by his mother, with drug paraphernalia in his vicinity. Additionally, there were reportedly traces of a white substance in his mouth.
The items suggested the presence of a lighter and a straw. Authorities also discovered fentanyl, heroin, and crack cocaine near his body.
Even more concerning, it seems that Matusz was brought to a nearby emergency room two days prior to his death. The report did not specify the reason for his hospitalization, but he was released. He was advised to pursue mental health support. He was brought to a behavioral health facility, but he was not accepted.
The report additionally mentioned that two days prior to his hospital visit, he expressed to his mother that “there is nothing left for me.”
It’s a sad conclusion to a life and career that began with great potential when the Orioles chose him as the No. 4 overall pick in the 2008 MLB draft from the University of San Diego.
He debuted in the Major League with the Orioles in 2009 at the age of 22 and recorded a 5-2 record in eight games with a 4.63 ERA. He stayed with Baltimore for most of his career, enjoying his finest season in 2010 when he finished 10-12 with a 4.30 ERA over 32 starts. He placed fifth in the AL rookie of the year voting.
However, he never reached the level the Orioles anticipated from a first-round selection.
He finished 27-41 with a 4.92 ERA during his time with Baltimore, serving as a reliable middle reliever in his last two seasons with the team.
In 2016, the Orioles sent him to Atlanta, where he was designated for assignment. He joined the Chicago Cubs but was designated for assignment after a single start.
He never played in the Majors again, although he played in the minors with Arizona in 2017 and in the Mexican League in 2019.
Leave a Reply