Is Brian Matusz Due For a Promotion?

In the 2005 MLB first-year-player draft, the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim made a big mistake when they failed to sign their fourth-round draft pick, left-handed pitcher Brian Matusz.

Four years later, Matusz is tearing apart the Carolina League as a part of the Frederick Keys, a Baltimore Orioles affiliate.

In the 2008 draft, the Orioles took Matusz fourth over first baseman Justin Smoak and shortstop Gordon Beckham, who both play positions of need when looking at the Orioles’ farm.

Though fans were split on the decision to pass on a position player, I doubt many are complaining after watching Matusz’s first minor league season.

Matusz leads the Carolina League in innings pitched (66.2) and strikeouts (75) and is third in ERA. The 22-year-old has already proven that he can go deep into games going seven innings in four of his last six starts including three shutout performances.

Like Matt Wieters one year before him, Matusz could be looking at a Double-A promotion at the All-Star break and maybe even a few starts at the Triple-A level when the major league rosters expand in September.

One thing is for sure, Matusz has little left to prove in Frederick.

This past spring, Matusz received an invite to Spring Training camp with the Orioles and though he wasn’t there long, just two games pitched, he recorded a dominant line.

Matusz gave up just two hits and a walk while striking out five in four and two-thirds innings leaving his ERA at 0.00 when he was sent to minor league camp.

At 6’5” Matusz is a powerful guy but he isn’t going to throw 98-mph fastballs by you. The tall lefty will touch 94 but sits more in the 91-93 range.

Much like Cole Hamels, one of his closest comparisons, Matusz has both a devastating curveball and slider. A four-pitch pitcher, Matusz also has an above-average changeup in his arsenal.

Though Matusz pitched in the Arizona Fall League in 2008, he was ranked No. 20 on MLB.com top 50 prospects list before his official professional debut in April.

Shortly after the draft last year, ESPN’s Keith Law said that Matusz could be fastest to the majors of the 2008 crop.

Though the Chicago White Sox have already brought up Beckham, whom they picked No. 8, it was San Francisco Giants’ first-rounder Conor Gillaspie who made it first, though it was only for eight games.

But still, it is too early at least to say who will be the first to be successful at the major league level.

Next year during Spring Training, I imagine Matusz will be ready to compete for a spot in the Orioles’ rotation with fellow top prospects Chris Tillman and Jake Arrieta who are currently dominating Triple-A and Double-A respectively.

Tillman and Arrieta are ranked No. 16 and No. 36 on the top prospects list and both have top-of-the-rotation potential.

Look out for the Orioles in 2010. With “The Cavalry” on the way, it’s sure to be an exciting season.