Prospect Review - Brian Matusz - P - BAL

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The Basics
Bats: Left
Throws: Left
How Acquired: Drafted in the 1st Round (#4 overall) of the 2008 Amateur Draft by the Baltimore Orioles
Age: 23

Statistics

2009 – Frederick (Carolina League – Orioles High-A) – 11 starts

• 4-2, 2.16 ERA, 66 2/3 IP
• 75 strikeouts, 21 walks
• 2.91 FIP

2009 – Bowie (Eastern League – Orioles AA) – 8 starts

• 7-0, 1.55 ERA, 46 1/3 IP
• 46 strikeouts, 11 walks
• 2.55 FIP

2009 – Orioles (MLB) – 8 starts

• 5-2, 4.63 ERA, 44 2/3 IP
• 38 strikeouts, 14 walks
• 4.08 FIP

Rankings
Baseball America – #1 (BAL – 2010)
Baseball Prospectus – #1 (BAL – 2010) – 5 star
John Sickels – #1 (BAL – 2010) – A

Analysis

Matusz was highly touted coming out of the University of San Diego, and the Orioles took him with the 4th pick in 2008′s amateur draft. He pitched in the Arizona Fall League in 2008, but didn’t make his regular season debut until 2009. He has since skyrocketed through the Orioles’ system, finishing the season with the big club. His season totals (16-4, 157 2/3 IP, 159 strikeouts, 46 walks), while split across 3 levels, were still very good.

I’m actually having a bit of a hard time finding things to say about Matusz that haven’t already been said. He’s extremely well thought of as a prospect, and has pretty universally been placed near the top of prospect lists all off-season.

From MLB.COM: “His slightly above-average fastball touches 94 mph while his curve and slider are both outstanding. He also throws an above-average changeup. He knows how to pitch and has the ability to throw all four pitches for strikes.”

I really like what I’ve seen so far of Matusz. He throws from a 3/4 arm slot, and the motion looks very smooth to me. He has excellent control, even showing it in his stint in the Majors at the end of the season. From the scouting reports I’ve seen, he has 4 solid pitches, which really bodes well for his long-term success with the Orioles. He really looks like an ace in the making.

Outlook

Matusz will start the 2010 season in the Orioles rotation barring some unforeseen complication. And I have to imagine he’s going to stay there for quite a long time, probably leading the rotation very soon.

Projection for 2010

12-8, 3.75 ERA, 175 IP, 160 strikeouts, 45 walks

Expected ETA

He’s already here. And its highly likely he’s here to stay.

Tomorrow’s Prospect for Review – Domonic Brown (OF) of the Philadelphia Phillies

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