Brian Matusz: Another Orioles Top Prospect Primed for Stardom

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To say that the youth movement is occurring for the Baltimore Orioles is an understatement.  Before this season began the Orioles had numerous players on the cusp of the major leagues.  Now with the dog days of summer upon us, the Orioles have decided it’s time to open the floodgates and give their youngsters an opportunity to get their feet wet at the major league level.  

There’s no better time to see what highly touted prospects can do in the majors than now.  The Orioles, 46-65 on the year, sit in the basement of the American League East standings and have basically nothing to play for. However, with guys like Matt Wieters, Chris Tillman, Nolan Reimold, and David Hernandez recalled, the Orioles expect their losing ways to come to a halt sooner rather than later.

One arm expected to aid the young and upcoming Orioles staff is Brian Matusz, a 22-year-old southpaw out of the University of San Diego.  While he’s had one good start and one bad one thus far this season, suffice it to say that the Orioles expect big things out of their young lefty. Matusz earned a win in his first start against Detroit, pitching five innings and allowing one earned run, while striking out five.  In his start against Toronto yesterday, he lasted 2.2 innings and gave up five earned runs, and three home runs. A 7.04 ERA and a 2.35 WHIP are atrocious, but don’t worry fantasy owners, Matusz isn’t nearly that bad.

Matusz was the top college pitcher in the 2008 draft and has risen quickly within the Orioles farm system, to his promotion this season.  Matusz also threw at high-A and double-A for the Orioles this season. In 113 innings pitched, Matusz gave up 87 hits, walked just 32, and struck out 121. He also had a 1.91 ERA and a 1.05 WHIP.  After being such an excellent college pitcher, Matusz had no problems showing the inferior minor league competition who’s boss.  

Since his minor league stats account for such a small sample size, I’ll give you an idea of how great he was in college: 317 innings pitched, 265 hits, 15 home runs allowed, 397 strikeouts, 2.94 ERA, and a 1.16 WHIP.  Granted, the vast majority of college players won’t make it to the major leagues, but at least you get to see how good he really was.  In his last season at San Diego, Matusz had a 1.71 ERA and a 1.00 WHIP.  No wonder he was taken 4th overall!

If you’ve seen Matusz pitch you know that he doesn’t have the most overpowering stuff.  What he does have is four above-average major league pitches: a fastball in the low-90s, a curveball, a changeup and a slider.  Comparisons of Matusz have been made to Cole Hamels. He’s already such a polished pitcher, that many scouts see more immediate success from him right now than from fellow rookie, Chris Tillman.

For those still wavering on whether to pick him up, take a look at Kevin Goldstein from Baseball Prospectus’ view on the negatives of Matusz.  “Matusz doesn't blow hitters away as much as he takes them apart surgically, limiting his projection in the eyes of some,” says Goldstein. “His delivery is a bit on the herky-jerky side, but his arm action is clean and his release point is consistent.”  

If that’s the worst of what Matusz brings to the table, then I’m all over him.  I can’t seem to find a true red flag in that statement from Goldstein.  Matusz isn’t the type of pitcher to light-up radar guns, so there isn’t an awe affect with him.  But he knows how to make hitters look foolish and should be a very good pitcher for the Orioles in the coming years.  

Keith Law, of ESPN.com, sees Matusz developing into a number one or number two starter.  Kevin Goldstein projects Matusz as a “top-end starter and an All-Star.” Many scouts and writers admit that the reason Matusz fell lower on prospect rankings is because he really hasn’t pitched a lot in the minor leagues. Obviously the Orioles love his makeup and have seen him toy with minor leaguers enough that they believe it’s time he shows his stuff at the big league level.

As with any prospect, it will take time for them to develop into their future projection.  Matusz also has to face great hitting teams like the Red Sox, Yankees, and Rays in the division, so he doesn’t exactly have an easy road ahead of him.  But with the talent level Matusz has, it’s only a matter of time before he’s baffling hitters like he did in college and in the minors. He should already be owned in keeper leagues and yearly leaguers should take a cautious wait-and-see approach with him.

What do you guys think?  Will Matusz make his mark this year?  Is he keeper-worthy?