MSU is best known for developing high-class talent in both basketball and hockey, but one of the Michigan State baseball players is looking like a gem. Junior lefty Joseph Dzierwa has been nothing short of sensational to kick off the 2025 campaign as MSU’s 6-1 start marked their best since 2016.
The 6-foot-7 southpaw has dazzled on the hill, leading to Michigan State's No. 23 ranking in the NCBWA Poll, their first appearance in the poll in nearly a decade’s time.
Dzierwa, in 13 innings of action this season, has only given up two hits and two walks, as his fastball-slider combo has left hitters leaving foolish at the dish. His 4.07 ERA last season is less indicative of his talent compared to his team-high 91 strikeouts in just 84.0 innings pitched.
This past week, Dzierwa etched his place in the program's history books, becoming the first-ever Spartan to receive back-to-back Big Ten Weekly awards. Dzierwa, an All-Big Ten second-team selection in 2024, became just the sixth pitcher in program history to attain Big Ten Pitcher of the Week honors twice in a season. He also became the first MSU pitcher to achieve the feat since 2011.
In 7.0 innings against Washington State last Friday, the MSU ace surrendered no runs, racking up a career-high 12 strikeouts against the Cougars. He allowed just one hit and one walk, both of which came in the first inning, before making quick work in his lone start in Corpus Christi. His dozen strikeouts marked the most by a Spartan since 2021 when Sam Benschoter amassed 17 in 9.1 innings.
This performance succeeded an 11-strikeout performance against Western Michigan the week before. Dzierwa, who is atop the Big Ten and tied for second in the country with 23 punchouts, rang up the first seven Broncos he faced.
What makes this feat even more improbable is that Dzierwa had entered the NCAA Transfer Portal last summer. After originally committing to Vanderbilt, the Haskins, Ohio, native opted to return to East Lansing.
As Dzierwa continues to turn heads and pursue an MLB future, the message is clear: there will be plenty more weekly awards to come.