Dzierwa dazzling at Double-A: Orioles' No. 4 prospect extends his scoreless streak
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Joseph Dzierwa has been dominating Double-A hitters for the past six weeks.
The Orioles' No. 4 prospect tossed six more scoreless frames, striking out seven and taking a no-hit bid into the sixth inning in Double-A Chesapeake’s 3-2 victory over Reading on Wednesday at FirstEnergy Stadium. Over the past 17 innings, Dzierwa hasn’t allowed an earned run while yielding just seven hits, and he has posted all zeros over two starts in August.
The 2025 second-round pick was dialed in early during his latest outing, striking out the side in the first inning and fanning six of the first nine batters he faced.
Of the seven punchouts Dzierwa collected, six came courtesy of a 55-grade fastball. In total, his arsenal generated a 31 percent whiff rate (nine whiffs on 29 swings). Dating back to July 1, the left-hander's 36 strikeouts rank second in the Orioles system.
The lone hit surrendered by Dzierwa came in the bottom of the sixth -- a one-out single by Pedro León (Phillies). León was erased one pitch later when Dzierwa induced an inning-ending ground-ball double play by Raylin Heredia (PHI No. 28).
Facing a lineup stacked with six right-handed hitters, the 6-foot-8 southpaw was unfazed. Between two Minor League levels this season, Dzierwa has held righties to just a .173 average and a .272 slugging percentage.
For righties and lefties alike, though, barreling up Dzierwa has been difficult in recent weeks. Over his last seven starts spanning 35 2/3 innings, opposing hitters have just a .457 OPS with six extra-base hits against the Ohio native.
In his first pro season, Dziera has proven to be one of the best young left-handed arms in the Minors. Among qualified arms in the system, Dzierwa ranks first in ERA (2.01), strikeouts (132,) WHIP (0.86), average-against (.173) and OPS allowed (.487).