BOWIE -- The successful Double-A debut of pitcher Brian Matusz, the Orioles' first selection in the 2008 draft, coincided Wednesday night with the giveaway of 1,000 palm-sized Matt Wieters action figures at Prince George's Stadium.
The timing was happenstance. The organization said it wouldn't want to place undue pressure on Matusz by likening the cherubic-faced left-handed starter's development to that of Wieters, the fifth overall pick in 2007 who hit .345 here last season and arrived in Baltimore on May 29 from Triple-A Norfolk.
Still, it has been hard for the big club to contain its glee about Matusz, who was 4-2 with a 2.16 ERA and did not allow an earned run in his final 23 innings at Single-A Frederick before being summoned to the Baysox.
Matusz, 6 feet 5, lived up to his billing Wednesday night, striking out 10 Reading Phillies, walking one and surrendering three hits before leaving after six innings and 89 pitches with a 3-1 lead. The only run he gave up was unearned, and he was the winning pitcher in a 4-1 victory.
"I was pretty nervous, I'm not going to lie," Matusz said. "I'm playing professional baseball. It's a dream of mine."
After stopping Reading in order in the first inning, Matusz had trouble locating his low-90s fastball and surrendered an unearned run in the second. Then he went to work. Using a changeup and curve effectively, he struck out six of seven batters during one stretch of the hitless third, fourth and fifth innings.
Matusz's strengths include his poise - former Frederick teammates describe the former University of San Diego pitcher as laid-back - and an unusual repertoire of pitches for a 22-year-old. He struck out more hitters Wednesday night by fooling them than by overpowering them.
Matusz's debut was watched by an announced 1,814 fans - between 1,000 and 3,000 typically turn out on weeknights - on a night that threatened rain. Many arrived early to collect the Wieters figurines. Matusz joked that he already had a Wieters bobblehead doll from Frederick.
Bowie manger Brad Komminsk, who once managed the New York Yankees' CC Sabathia in the minors, said the arrival of Matusz - like that of Wieters and Nolan Reimold before him - would energize area fans. "Finally they are seeing young guys who are really the future," Komminsk said.
In Matusz, the Orioles must balance patience against their excitement over his potential. Like the pitcher himself, the club said it is hesitant to put a timetable on his arrival in the big leagues.
"There is some science to it and some art to it," Orioles president of baseball operations Andy MacPhail said.
Matusz might have been expected to remain with Frederick at least through the coming Carolina League All-Star break. He said the timing of the move to Bowie was a surprise.
But what was the franchise to do when its pitcher had gone weeks without surrendering a run?
"These decisions become self-evident over time," MacPhail said.
