July 9, 2009

SAN DIEGO, Calif. - Former University of San Diego All-American and No. 4 overall pick in the 2008 MLB draft, has been ranked the ninth best prospect by Baseball America.

Click here to see Baseball America Article

Matusz has already made the move to double A baseball, and hasn't slowed down, as he has only given up one run in his first 26 innings of work. Matusz has posted a perfect 4-0 record, with a 0.36 ERA and has racked up 32 strikeouts in his first four outings with Bowie, the AA affiliate for the Baltimore Orioles.

Matusz, who was the Baltimore Orioles first-round selection in the 2008 First Year Player Draft, taken fourth overall, started the year in Frederick, going 4-2 with a 2.16 ERA in 11 starts for the Keys. While playing with Frederick, Matusz threw in 66.2 innings and did not allowed a run in his final 23 innings pitched.

In Matusz's final year with the Toreros (2008) he led the NCAA in strikeouts (141), tied for fifth in the country in wins (12) and he posted a 1.71 ERA, which is fourth all-time at USD in single-season ERA. The southpaw was named 2008 West Coast Conference Pitcher of the Year, named a Louisville Slugger first-team All-American and finished the season as the all-time career leader at San Diego in strikeouts (396). Matusz also tied the program single-game record for strikeouts with 17 in a win against Harvard on March 22, 2008 and set the single-season strikeout record of 163 in 2007. Matusz became the first San Diego player to be named as a finalist for the Golden Spikes Award -- given to the best amateur baseball player -- and he helped the team record back-to-back 40 wins seasons in 2007 and 2008. Matusz was a member of the 2007 USA Baseball National Team, was also named a finalist for the Roger Clemens award and was a two-time first-team All-WCC selection.