Brian Matusz's first pro season has officially come to an end, stopping after the best start of his big league career.
Orioles manager Dave Trembley, pitching coach Rick Kranitz and Andy MacPhail, club president of baseball operations, met with the 22-year-old left-hander Monday and informed him he had reached his innings maximum for 2009.
Matusz, the club's top pick in last year's draft, threw 157 2/3 innings this season, including 44 2/3 in eight big league starts since his recall in August.
"It is the right thing to do for Matusz, and it is the right thing to do for the Baltimore Orioles," Trembley said. "He is a very big part of our future. A tremendous season based upon not just on how he performed here but where he came from. A year ago he was at the University of San Diego."
Matusz ends the year 5-2 with a 4.63 ERA in eight starts with the Orioles. He was 3-0 with a 2.42 ERA in his final four games, including allowing just one run in seven innings Saturday in a win at Yankee Stadium.
He'll stay with the club for the next three weeks but won't throw a pitch. He'll work with Kranitz on specific mechanics. Mark Hendrickson will take Matusz's rotation spot and will pitch Thursday against the Tampa Bay Rays. Hendrickson was 1-4 with a 6.35 ERA in seven starts this season but was 4-0 with a 3.44 ERA in 42 games in relief.
Tillman will keep pitching
Chris Tillman, the O's youngest starter at 21, will remain in the rotation for now.
Tillman has thrown a career-high 148 innings this season, including 51 1/3 in the majors. He has, however, thrown 135 2/3 innings in each of the past two seasons.
Around the horn
Felix Pie, who left Friday's game with back spasms, could be ready to play Tuesday. ... Third baseman Melvin Mora was in the starting lineup Monday after missing two days with a sore hand. ... Single-A Frederick catcher Caleb Joseph is the organization's Elrod Hendricks Award winner for outstanding community service, and Triple-A Norfolk pitching coach Mike Griffin won the Cal Ripken Sr. Award for player development. They, along with Brandon Waring (Brooks Robinson Award), Matusz (Jim Palmer Award) and Jim Howard (Jim Russo Award), will be honored Wednesday.
