Former Orioles pitcher Brian Matusz likely died of drug overdose, Phoenix police say

Jacob Calvin Meyer, The Baltimore Sun on Jan 14, 2025

Published in Baseball

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BALTIMORE — Former Orioles pitcher Brian Matusz likely died last week of a drug overdose, according to Phoenix police.

Matusz, 37, died Jan. 6 at his home in Arizona. His mother, Elizabeth Matusz, found him with drug paraphernalia on the floor next to his body and a white substance in his mouth, according to a police report obtained by The Baltimore Sun. The type of substance was redacted from the report.

There were no signs of foul play, police said. The incident is still being investigated, and Matusz’s remains were recovered by the Maricopa County Office of the Medical Examiner. The case was then sealed Wednesday evening upon request from the family’s attorney, an Office of the Medical Examiner spokesperson said.

Matusz, a former first-round draft pick who pitched eight seasons in Baltimore, was taken to the emergency room by his mother at 3 a.m. on Jan. 4, but the reason for the visit is redacted from the report. He was treated at the hospital, prescribed medication, which is also redacted, and discharged six hours later with the recommendation to see a mental health professional. Elizabeth Matusz and her husband, Michael, took their son to Banner Behavioral Health Hospital in Scottsdale later that day, but he was not admitted. He spent the evening of Jan. 5 at their house before going back to his home.

According to the report, Elizabeth Matusz said her son was making statements about how he used to “have it all” and that “there is nothing left for me.” She also told police her son had a history of drug use but that she believed he’d been clean for about eight months. What substance Matusz used was also redacted from the report. Matusz, who was divorced and didn’t have children, “only lightly” used alcohol, his mother told police, and no evidence of alcohol use was found in his house.

Matusz’s phone went missing at the hospital, according to the report, and his mother went to his house Jan. 6 after she was unable to reach him via phone. She entered his home through a bathroom window after Matusz didn’t answer the door, finding her son on the couch in the upstairs loft and calling police at around 2:45 p.m. Drug paraphernalia such as a lighter, straw and aluminum foil in the shape of a small square were found next to Matusz’s hand, police said. The fire department was first to arrive and pronounced Matusz dead.

Matusz joined the Orioles organization as the No. 4 overall pick in the 2008 draft. The Grand Junction, Colorado, native and University of San Diego standout was a highly touted prospect before his MLB debut in 2009, but he never reached his potential as a starting pitcher.

After struggling for a few seasons, he found his niche as a left-handed reliever in Buck Showalter’s bullpen, posting a 3.32 ERA and 159 strikeouts in 151 2/3 innings from 2013 to 2015.

“Our hearts are heavy tonight as we mourn the passing of former Oriole, Brian Matusz,” the Orioles said in a statement last week. “A staple 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 any fan he could, was a cherished teammate, and always had a smile on his face. Brian’s family and loved ones are in our thoughts and prayers at this difficult time.”

The southpaw became a fan-favorite for his success against Boston Red Sox slugger David Ortiz. Matusz faced “Big Papi” the second most of any better in his career and held the Hall of Famer to a .138 batting average, a .408 OPS and zero home runs. He struck Ortiz out 13 times in 30 plate appearances. He also worked with several local charities during his time with the Orioles, including the Columbia-based Casey Cares, a nonprofit that supports families with critically ill children.

“Brian was engaging, smiled easily, had a lot of quiet self-confidence,” Showalter said last week. “I don’t know. I’m kind of gathering my thoughts on it right now. … It’s tough. We all as we get older get in touch with our mortality. But it’s just too young.

“When something happens like this, I’ve always had a grip on reality, but this one, you kind of go, ‘Wow.’”

A rib injury hampered the start to his 2016 season, in the middle of which he was traded by Baltimore to the Atlanta Braves. He later joined the Chicago Cubs that year and started one game for them, his final MLB appearance. He began the 2017 campaign in Triple-A but was released and never rejoined a big league organization. He played in the Mexican League and the independent Atlantic League in 2019, his last time pitching professionally.

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