New details about the shocking death of Brian Matusz are emerging

Phoenix police are investigating the unexpected death of former Orioles pitcher Brian Matusz.

He was 37.

“I can confirm that we responded to a body call at a home near 44th Street and Campbell Avenue,” Phoenix Police Sgt. said Monday around 2:45 p.m. MT. Phil Krynsky told NBC News.

“The deceased person found was actually 37-year-old Brian Matusz. At this time, this incident is being treated as a death investigation.”

According to the Maricopa County Office of the Medical Examiner, the cause and manner of death have yet to be determined.

The Orioles and the University of San Diego — where the southpaw was the winningest pitcher in program history from 2006 to 2008 — announced his death Tuesday.

USD said in a news release that Matusz’s family first shared the news that day.

“Our hearts are heavy tonight as we mourn the passing of former Oriole Brian Matusz,” the Orioles said. “Brian was an integral part of our clubhouse from 2009 to 2016 and was beloved throughout Birdland. His passion for baseball and our community was unmatched. He dedicated his time to connecting with all the fans he could, was a valued teammate and always had a smile on his face.”

Matusz made 279 of his 280 career appearances with the Orioles, who drafted the left-handed pitcher with the fourth overall pick in 2008.

In his eight-year career from 2009 to 2016, he went 27-41 with a 4.92 ERA.

Former Orioles manager Buck Showalter, who managed Matusz from 2010 to 2016, said he spoke to many of Matusz’s 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 confidence,” Showalter told the Baltimore Sun on Wednesday. “I don’t know. I’m just gathering my thoughts about it. … It’s difficult. We all come into contact with our mortality as we get older. But it’s just too young.

“When something like this happens I always have a grip on reality, but this one kind of makes you say ‘Wow’.”

Matusz 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 most recently played professionally with the Long Island Ducks of the Atlantic League.