In 2008 with San Diego, Matusz was named the West Coast Conference Pitcher of the Year, was a finalist for the Roger Clemens Award, and was a first-team All-American. He led the NCAA with 141 strikeouts and was 12–2 with a 1.71 ERA in 105 innings. In three season with San Diego, he had 396 strikeouts, a school record.[5][6][7]
Professional career
Baltimore Orioles
The Baltimore Orioles selected Matusz in the first round, with the fourth overall selection, in the 2008 MLB draft. Matusz signed a contract with the Orioles on August 15, 2008, the deadline to sign draft picks, receiving a $3.2 million signing bonus.[5][8] The Orioles invited him to spring training as a non-roster player in 2009. In June 2009, he was promoted from the High-AFrederick Keys to the Double-A Bowie Baysox. He struck out 10 batters in his first start for Bowie on June 17. Matusz was named Baseball America's ninth best overall prospect mid-season in 2009.[9] Before the 2010 season, Baseball America named him the fifth best prospect in all of baseball.[10]
Matusz made his MLB debut on August 4, 2009, against the Detroit Tigers. He went five innings, allowing six hits, one earned run and striking out five. He earned a win in his effort. On September 14, the O's decided to shut him down for the remainder of the season, wary of overextending the rookie in his first big league season.[11] He was named a starting pitcher on Baseball America's 2010 All-Rookie Team.[12]
Matusz missed the first two months of the 2011 season with an injury.[13] He returned and got six starts and finished with a 1–4 record with an ERA above 7.00 before being demoted to Triple-A Norfolk on June 30 to work on his velocity.[14] He was later recalled and continued to struggle, posting a 1–7 record and 9.84 ERA before his removal from the starting rotation in September.[15][16]
Matusz in 2009
Matusz began the 2012 season in the rotation, but was demoted to the bullpen in August. In the bullpen, he excelled, striking out 19 with a 1.35 ERA in 18 appearances. He also did not allow a single inherited runner to score. He pitched the last three months of the season with a rectus abdominis tear, preventing him from sprinting, but not pitching. He had surgery in October to repair the tear, and was expected to be back for spring training.[17] In 2013, Matusz made the transition to full-time reliever, appearing in 65 games. He was 2–1 with a 3.53 ERA for the Orioles.[18][19] On May 23, 2015, he was ejected from the game against the Miami Marlins in the 12th inning for having a foreign substance on his right forearm. He was the second pitcher to be ejected for a foreign substance that week. He was suspended for eight games.[20][19] He posted a 2.94 ERA and 10.29 strikeouts per nine innings in 58 relief appearances in 2015. On February 4, 2016, Matusz and the Orioles agreed to a one-year deal to avoid arbitration.[21]
On May 23, the Orioles traded Matusz and the 76th pick in the 2016 Major League Baseball draft to the Atlanta Braves for minor league pitchers Brandon Barker and Trevor Belicek. The Braves designated Matusz for assignment on June 1, shortly after trading for him.[22][23]
Chicago Cubs
On June 15, 2016, the Chicago Cubs signed Matusz to a minor league contract. After being employed solely as a reliever since 2012, the Cubs assigned him to be a starter in the minors. On July 30, 2016, the Cubs called him up to start against the Seattle Mariners on July 31.[24] However, after a poor outing in the game, the Cubs designated him for assignment the next day.[25] He cleared waivers later and was outrighted to the Triple-A Iowa Cubs.[26] Despite only appearing in one game for the Cubs during their 2016 World Series season, he was given a World Series ring.[27] In his final MLB season, he allowed 14 runs in 9 innings in 8 games combined with the Orioles and Cubs.[28] Matusz elected free agency following the season on November 7.[29][23]
Later career
On February 13, 2017, Matusz signed a minor league contract with the Arizona Diamondbacks.[30] In 11 games for the Triple-A Reno Aces, he struggled to a 6.11 ERA with 13 strikeouts across 17+2⁄3 innings pitched. On May 16, he was released by the Diamondbacks.[31]
On July 23, 2019, Matusz signed with the Acereros de Monclova of the Mexican League.[32] He made one start, allowing 5 hits and 5 earned runs with 3 walks and 2 strikeouts in 3 innings.[33] On August 2, 2019, he signed with the Long Island Ducks of the Atlantic League.[34][35] In 46+2⁄3 innings across nine starts, he went 2–3 with a 4.05 ERA and 45 strikeouts.[36]
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