Former Baltimore Orioles left-hander Brian Matusz, the No. 4 pick in the 2008 MLB draft who spent almost his entire eight-year career with the Orioles, died Tuesday at age 37.

Matusz pitched in 279 games for Baltimore, making 68 starts. The only other major league team he played for was the Chicago Cubs, making a three-inning start on July 31, 2016.

"A staple in our clubhouse from 2009-16, Brian was beloved throughout Birdland, and his passion for baseball and our community was unmatched," the Orioles said in a statement. "He dedicated his time to connecting with any fan he could, was a cherished teammate and always had a smile on his face."

Matusz's death happened in Arizona, but no cause of death has yet been released.

The Phoenix police department confirmed Wednesday night that it responded to a dead body call at 2:45 p.m. on Monday and found Matusz. The department said the incident is being handled as a death investigation and the case is pending findings by a medical examiner.

Matusz, who eventually became a reliever, was most known for his success against Hall of Famer David Ortiz, who went 4-for-29 (.138) with 13 strikeouts in his career against Matusz.

He pitched in the 2012 and 2014 postseasons for the Orioles.

Baltimore traded Matusz, who had a 12.00 ERA in seven games, to the Braves in May 2016, and Atlanta released him a week later. He signed with the Cubs, where he pitched in the minors except for the one big league start. His pitching career ended in 2019.

Matusz originally was drafted by the Los Angeles Angels in the fourth round in 2005, but he decided to go to the University of San Diego, where he was named West Coast Conference Pitcher of the Year and was a two-time finalist for the Golden Spikes Award. He finished his college career as the school's all-time leader in strikeouts with 396.

"Brian was one of the best players to ever wear a Torero uniform," San Diego coach Brock Ungricht said. "His dedication to the USD community and passion for the game of baseball were evident to all who knew him. Brian's unexpected passing leaves a void in our hearts, but his legacy will continue to inspire us, both on and off the field. We will forever be grateful for his friendship and unwavering support of San Diego baseball."

Matusz would have been 38 on Feb. 11.