Back on January 6, former Baltimore Orioles pitcher Brian Matusz was tragically found dead in his Arizona home.
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Now following an investigation, information regarding the cause of death has been revealed.
According to a Phoenix police report, when his mother Elizabeth found him, Matusz had a white substance in his mouth with drug paraphernalia on the floor next to him (per The Baltimore Banner).
Elizabeth told police that Brian, 37, had a history of drug abuse and recently made comments like "there is nothing left for me."
On January 4, a couple days prior to his tragic death, Elizabeth states that she took her son to a behavioral health hospital in Scottsdale, yet he was not admitted.
This tragedy has brought sadness to not only the Matusz family, but also the many lives Brian touched.
Former Orioles pitcher Brian Matusz, 37, passed away on January 7, 2025. His legacy and impact in the Baltimore community reach far beyond the diamond. Matusz was an integral figure in the Casey Cares Foundation, bringing joy to critically ill children in the Baltimore area.… pic.twitter.com/K49JK0PoZI
— FOX Baltimore (@FOXBaltimore) January 9, 2025
Rest in peace to Brian Matusz. He popped up in my suggested on instagram a while ago, was private and had about 1,000 followers. For some reason he accepted me and I thought to slide up on his stories here and there, and he would always reply. Good guy, sad news. pic.twitter.com/31MrjbFtOJ
— Donovan (@TomCruised1) January 8, 2025
Our hearts are heavy tonight as we mourn the passing of former Oriole, Brian Matusz.
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… pic.twitter.com/wNN3WkO8l4
— Baltimore Orioles (@Orioles) January 8, 2025
The Baltimore Orioles released a statement following the news of Matusz passing away.
"Our hearts are heavy tonight as we mourn the passing of former Oriole, Brian Matusz. 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."
We are devastated to learn of the passing of former Major League pitcher Brian Matusz.
Matusz, the No. 4 overall pick in the 2008 MLB Draft, spent a majority of his eight seasons with the Orioles. He won his Major League debut on August 4, 2009, as he gave up just one run in… pic.twitter.com/40nxZP7KDG
— MLB (@MLB) January 8, 2025
Matusz was the No. 4 overall pick in the 2008 MLB Draft out of the University of San Diego, and played for the Orioles from 2009 to 2016, before joining the Chicago Cubs for a brief stint in 2016, when they won the World Series.
University of San Diego Athletics is heartbroken to learn of the passing of beloved Torero Legend Brian Matusz.
Matusz became the most accomplished pitcher in program history from 2006 to 2008, earning Golden Spikes Finalist, First-Team All-American, and WCC Pitcher of the Year… pic.twitter.com/OxpcYSpnrw
— San Diego Baseball (@USDbaseball) January 8, 2025
Appearing in 280 games throughout his career, as both a starting pitcher and reliever, Matusz ended with a 4.92 ERA, 462 strikeouts, and 27 wins.
Related: Former Baltimore Orioles Pitcher Brian Matusz Passes Away At 37 Years Old
