Joseph Dzierwa is headed to Camden Yards. The Michigan State baseball southpaw was selected No. 58 overall by the Baltimore Orioles, becoming the the second second-round pick the Spartans have produced across the last three drafts.
With the 58th pick in the 2025 Draft, the @Orioles select @MSUBaseball left-handed pitcher Joseph Dzierwa, No. 74 on the Top 250 Draft Prospects list.
— MLB Draft (@MLBDraft) July 14, 2025
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The 21-year-old dominated the Big Ten this past season, with the Haskins, Ohio, native receiving no shortage of accolades including Big Ten Pitcher of the Year, All-Big Ten first team, and multiple All-American honors.
In 91.2 innings, the 6-foot-8 Dzierwa posted a 2.35 ERA, striking out 104 batters in his junior season. He also recorded a 10.2 K/9, which was good for 94th in the nation.
Dzierwa enters situation where he can make immediate impact
Dzierwa brings size, command, and upside that should quickly translate to the professional level despite his subpar fastball velocity. Per MLB.com, he was ranked as the 74th-best player in this draft, but the Orioles clearly believe in his long-term potential.
And the timing for that bet couldn’t be more fitting. Baltimore is home to one of the worst-performing starting rotations in the MLB, which means the blend of polish and production the southpaw brings could accelerate his journey to the majors.
Charlie Morton is 41, Grayson Rodriguez has yet to pitch all season, and Tomoyuki Sugano is no better than a middle of the rotation arm. In other words, there’s a clear path to innings for a fast-rising arm like Dzierwa. Not to mention his control and inane ability to create whiffs.
Dzierwa follows in the footsteps of 2023 second-rounder Mitch Jebb, who has shined in the Pittsburgh Pirates’ minor league system, reinforcing that East Lansing is becoming a legitimate stop on the road to the majors.
Under head coach Jake Boss Jr., the Spartans have made steady progress in player development, and Dzierwa’s rise is a testament to that. From under-the-radar recruit to conference ace to top-60 pick, his story is one that should resonate not only in East Lansing but across the Midwest.
Now it’s time to see if he can handle the big show.