Former Orioles pitcher Brian Matusz has died at age 37, team announces

Former Baltimore Orioles pitcher Brian Matusz has died at age 37, the team announced. Matusz, a former first-round pick, played for the Orioles from 2009 to 2016.

According to a Phoenix Police Department report, obtained by The Baltimore Banner, Matusz "likely" died of a drug overdose.

Matusz was found dead in his Arizona home by his mother, Elizabeth Matusz, after she went to check on him. He was "cold to the touch with a white substance in his mouth," according to the report. On the floor near Matusz's body were a lighter, straw and a piece of aluminum foil, items sometimes used to inhale drugs.

There were no signs of foul play, according to police.

Authorities are handling this as a death investigation. The case is sealed and the Matusz family can petition the court to keep the records closed following the completion of the investigation. Office of the Medical Examiner is awaiting direction from the court.

Elizabeth Matusz told police that two days before he was found dead her son made comments saying “there is nothing left for me” and that he used to “have it all.” She took him to the emergency room, but the reason for the visit is redacted in the report. Brian Matusz was advised to seek assistance from a mental health professional and Elizabeth Matusz brought him to Banner Behavioral Health Hospital, but he was not admitted.

Brian Matusz had been clean of drugs for eight months, Elizabeth Matusz told police and he "only lightly" used alcohol.

In a social media post, the team described Matusz as "a staple in our clubhouse" and praised him for his passion for baseball and the Baltimore community.

"He dedicated his time to connecting with any fan he could, was a cherished teammate, and always had a smile on his face," the team wrote in the post.

Matusz, a Colorado native, was drafted by the Los Angeles Angels in the fourth round of the 2005 MLB Draft but opted to play baseball at the University of San Diego. He was then selected by Baltimore fourth overall in the 2008 MLB Draft. Matusz made his MLB debut in August 2009 and spent seven seasons in the Orioles' bullpen.

Matusz played in 280 games for the Orioles from 2009 to 2016, with a career ERA of 4.92.

After being traded by the team in 2016 and then released by the Atlanta Braves, Matusz played briefly for the Chicago Cubs in 2016. His final MLB game — he started for Chicago on July 31, 2016 — qualified him to receive a World Series ring after the Cubs won it all that season.