Orioles' No. 3 prospect Dzierwa was in the zone during his debut season
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Coming into his first full professional season, expectations were high for Joseph Dzierwa.
Selected in the second round of the 2025 Draft, MLB’s No. 89 prospect entered the Orioles' system fresh off winning the 2025 Big Ten Conference Pitcher of the Year and was the highest-drafted pitcher since Baltimore GM Mike Elias took over in 2018.
Dzierwa thrived in the obviously pressure-packed atmosphere, showing himself to be one of the more promising pitching prospects in the game. He topped the organization with a 2.27 ERA while striking out 149 (second-best) over 131 innings.
Starting the year at High-A, the Orioles’ No. 3 prospect went at least five in six of his first eight starts, posting a 2.21 ERA and an 0.81 WHIP in 40 2/3 innings with Frederick.
Dzierwa’s early-season dominance in the South Atlantic League quickly got him promoted to Double-A. After allowing five earned runs in his first 10 innings with Chesapeake, the southpaw found his footing.
Over his next 80 1/3 innings, Dzierwa overwhelmed Eastern League hitters. He posted a 2.02 ERA and held opposing batters to a .194 average-against. His dominance at the Double-A level was highlighted during a three-start stretch from July 31 to Aug. 8, when he didn't allow a run over 17 consecutive innings while posting a 35 percent strikeout rate.
In what could be his final start of the year, Dzierwa once again flashed his swing-and-miss stuff over five scoreless innings in an 8-7 Baysox win over Richmond on Wednesday at The Diamond.
Anchored by a 60-grade changeup and a 55-grade fastball, Dzierwa posted 10.24 K/9 rate, ranked first in the system this season. Since arriving at Chesapeake on May 22, his 99 punchouts are tied for seventh at the Double-A level.
The 22-year-old hasn't allowed much impactful contact this season either. Over the two levels, Dzierwa yielded just eight homers with an opponent slugging percentage of .289. Entering Wednesday, his 0.57 HR/9 ranked sixth among all qualified 22-year-old Minor Leaguers this season, per FanGraphs.
Even collecting singles or simply reaching base against the left-hander has proved difficult. Dzierwa's .186 average-against and 0.90 WHIP lead all pitchers on the farm.