Phoenix police are investigating the shocking death of former Orioles player Brian Matusch.
He was 37 years old.
“I can confirm that we responded to a call of a body at a residence near 44th Street and Campbell Avenue” at approximately 2:45 p.m. EST on Monday, said Phoenix Police Sgt. Phil Krinsky told NBC News.
“The deceased person found was actually 37-year-old Brian Matusch. Currently, this incident is being treated as a death investigation.
The cause and manner of death have not yet been determined, according to the Maricopa County Medical Examiner's Office.
The Orioles and the University of San Diego — where the southpaw became the most accomplished pitcher in program history from 2006-08 — announced his death Tuesday.
Matusch's family shared the news for the first time that day, USD said in a news release.
“Our hearts are heavy tonight as we mourn the passing of former Oriole Brian Matusch,” the Orioles said. “Brian was a staple of our club from 2009-2016. He was loved throughout Birdland, and his passion for baseball and our community was unparalleled. He dedicated his time to connecting with any fan, was a treasured teammate, and always had a smile on his face.”
Matos pitched in 279 of 280 games for the Orioles, who drafted the left-handed pitcher with the fourth overall pick in 2008.
He went 27-41 with a 4.92 ERA spanning eight seasons from 2009-16.
Former Orioles manager Buck Showalter, who managed Matos from 2010 to 2016, said he spoke with several of Matos' Orioles teammates after learning of his death, adding that he was stunned by the news.
“Brian was engaging, smiled easily, and had a lot of self-confidence,” Showalter told the Baltimore Sun on Wednesday. “I don't know. I'm kind of gathering my thoughts on it now. … It's rough and tough. We all as we get older come into contact with our mortality. But it's very small.”
“When something like this happens, I always have a tight grip on reality, but in this case, you say, ‘Wow.’”
Matusch won a World Series with the Chicago Cubs in 2016, which marked his final major league season.
The Colorado native pitched for the Triple-A Reno Aces (Diamondbacks) the following season.
Matusz last played professionally for the Long Island Ducks of the Atlantic League.
