Until this summer, former major league left-hander Brian Matusz hadn’t pitched professionally since a 17 2/3-inning stint with the Diamondbacks’ Triple-A affiliate in 2017. Matusz is now attempting a comeback, though, Roch Kubatko of MASNsports.com reports. He joined Monclava of the Mexican League in July and has more recently caught on with the Long Island Ducks of the independent Atlantic League.
Matusz told Kubatko this week that he “needed a break” from baseball, but he’s back after “getting that itch to play again.”
The 32-year-old is best known for his time with the Orioles, who selected him fourth overall in the 2008 draft. Matusz ultimately topped out as Baseball America’s fifth-ranked prospect after the 2009 season, but he never lived up to the billing – at least not as a starter – with the Orioles. From his debut in 2009 through 2012, Matusz struggled to a 5.36 ERA/4.71 FIP with 7.34 K/9 and 3.47 BB/9 over 368 innings (86 appearances, 68 starts). However, he became a full-time reliever thereafter and wound up enjoying a trio of successful seasons.
In 151 2/3 innings from 2013-15, Matusz logged a 3.32 ERA/3.50 FIP and posted 9.44 K/9 against 3.15 BB/9. Unfortunately for Matusz, his career nosedived after that stretch. Matusz opened the 2016 campaign in rough fashion, which helped convince Baltimore to trade him to Atlanta in May, but the Braves designated him for assignment before he ever pitched for them. He then had a brief stint that season as a member of the Cubs, with whom he totaled three innings in the majors, before his fleeting run with Arizona’s top affiliate two years ago.
Lol smh
Bruh good luck but I remember u gave up some bombs
Listen to “twins fan”! Your team is folding under pressure from the Indians and your response to a player busting his butt to make it back to the show is “smh”. Amazing!! You best be worrying about your club.
Seriously..what a jerk.
.I give credit to the guys who have made it but they to extend their careers in these bus leagues . You really have to love the game to play for what the Atlantic league pays and the accommodations the players recieve …I hope he makes it back to the bigs
Got em
Either really love the game or made enough money in your career that you can take a couple years before you have to go out and get a new job.
No twinsfan just likes to make stupid comments on everything he feels like
It’s true and I’m from Minnesota so it hurts that there’s a “Twins fan” on here just posting terrible comments
You could always count on him to get David Ortiz out. I think he went 3-30 against him with over 10ks in his career. He was a solid lefty piece out of the pen for a year or two. I hope the best for him
Bring him in. He is better than DK and Teheran.
Your shtick is so tired.
That is not true in the slightest..
Please get help!
Orioles need to get him again, he’s better than all of their pitchers
Matusz is one of those weird occurrences of players that play on a championship winning team in the majors for a small period of time and possibly gets offered a ring for participating.
He gave up 6 earned runs in 3 innings in his very last major league appearance for the cubs in 2016.
The Matusz game. Matusz gave up 6 run in his only start, then bullpen did not allow a run for the rest of the game while the offense kept chipping away and tied the game and Lester laid the perfect bunt to win the game in extras.
Awesome game and sparked the Cubs to go on a 11 game winning streak
Matusz was never from again
Barring any serious personality flaws, I will always root for a player who gives their best effort going after their dream and/or making a comeback. Good luck!
Orioles offer your best chance. Might as well go back to where you started.
I want to see Jamie Moyer make a comeback.
Got White Sox written all over him.
Look at the bozos they have brought in. Det, Covey, Shields, Desp?
Frankly, I would like to see Steve Stone make a comeback. I know he’s better than these guys,granted he’s in his 70’s
Why not? Better to try and possibly fail than to always wonder what could have been. Good for you, Matusz.
Started the Jon Lester Walk-off bunt game against the Mariners in 2016.
I think rangers should give him a shot, minor league deals haven’t hurt anyone….. hopefully
O’s need to resign him!