Brian Matusz, a former first-round draft pick of the Orioles who spent eight years in the majors as a pitcher, died Tuesday.

He was 37 years old. A cause of death was not given.

The left-hander made 279 of his 280 career appearances with the Orioles, who posted a heartfelt tribute to the pitcher on social media.

“Our hearts are heavy tonight as we mourn the passing of former Oriole Brian Matusz,” the team wrote. He dedicated his time to connecting with all the fans he could, was a valued teammate, and always had a smile on his face.

“Brian’s family and loved ones are in our thoughts and prayers during this difficult time.”

A Colorado native, Matusz became a star at the University of San Diego and won the West Coast Conference Pitcher of the Year in 2008.

That same year, the Orioles selected him in the first round of the MLB Draft with the fourth overall pick.

After a little less than a full season in the minors, Matusz made his big league debut on August 4, 2009, pitching five innings in a win against the Tigers.

In 2010, he made a career-high 32 starts and finished fifth in American League Rookie of the Year voting.

He moved to the bullpen toward the end of the 2012 season and eventually became a mainstay in the Orioles relief corps.

In each season from 2013 to 2015, he played at least 58 games with an ERA of 3.53 or less.

Matusz made one final big league appearance with the World Series-winning Cubs in 2016 before playing for the Triple-A Reno Aces (Diamondbacks) the following season.

After a stay in Mexico, he most recently played professionally with the Long Island Ducks of the Atlantic League.

In 2022, Matusz was hired as the bullpen coach for New Zealand ahead of the World Baseball Classic.