Orioles' No. 3 prospect continues to climb the K charts in the Minors
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Left-hander Joseph Dzierwa has the foundation to be a reliable big league starter for years to come. He's continuing to show why he can be that -- and then some -- in his first pro season.
The Orioles' No. 4 prospect had another brilliant start Thursday for Double-A Chesapeake, striking out nine batters and walking none over six scoreless innings in the BaySox's 3-2 loss to Harrisburg at Prince George's Stadium. He struck out at least one Harrisburg hitter in every inning but the second.
Dzierwa lowered his ERA to 2.12 across 21 games (19 starts) split between High-A and Double-A. He has a 0.87 WHIP, a .178 opponents' batting average and 125 strikeouts through 106 innings. His ERA is the second best among all full-season Minor Leaguers while his K count is now tied for second.
Many of Dzierwa's strikeouts on Friday came on his best pitch: a low-to-mid-80s changeup that has a 60 scouting grade. He complements that offering with a fastball that tops out at 95 mph but is very difficult to pick up because of the 6-foot-8 southpaw's low, three-quarters delivery.
Dzierwa, who has allowed a total of 12 earned runs over his past 12 outings, was the No. 58 pick in the 2025 Draft making him the highest-drafted pitcher during Mike Elias' time as general manager in Baltimore. The lefty has risen quickly through the Orioles' system, flashing a lot of potential, and there's room to grow if he can refine his cutter or slider.
But right now, as essentially a two-pitch pitcher, Dzierwa is dominating in the Minors.