A consistent problem for the Baltimore Orioles in recent years has been the lack of a solid pitching presence. After Corbin Burnes‘ departure in 2024, the team’s rotation has been marred by injuries and poor performance. Still, they have some pitching prospects worth watching, and one has been quietly making his mark at the High-A and Double-A levels in 2026.
Left-handed pitcher Joseph Dzierwa, the top Orioles pitching prospect from the second round of the 2025 draft, has made a grand statement in the first 15 games of his professional career. The 22-year-old, who is already pitching for Double-A Chesapeake, holds a 7-2 record with 96 strikeouts over 76 1/3 innings pitched. He’s continued his dominance through the first 15 games of the season, even earning All-Star Futures Game honors alongside Ike Irish.
Orioles Pitching Prospect Joseph Dzierwa Has Plenty of Promise
Average-Grade Arsenal with Big Upside
One thing that should catch the eye of those looking at Dzierwa is that he grades out as a slightly below-average pitcher, at a 45 out of 80. Scouts acknowledge his plus-grade changeup and fastball combination, but have concerns about the lack of a third pitch. That also includes his towering height of six-foot-eight and three-quarters arm slot. Not quite a Randy Johnson-esque profile, but close in height and wide-angle delivery.
“The fastball sits 90-93 mph and tops out at 95, featuring plenty of separation from the changeup in the low-80s,” the MLB scouting report says. “Dzierwa is much less adept at spinning his other secondary pitches, an upper-70s slider and mid-80s cutter that he can get over for strikes but can’t trust enough to be considered real weapons.”
Joseph Dzierwa (BAL) continues to solidify himself as one of the best pitching prospects in MLB
The Orioles 2025 2nd round pick made his AA debut yesterday, firing off 5.1 IP with 10 K and 0 BB. His season total now sits at 2.54 ERA & 1.90 FIP in 46.0 IP pic.twitter.com/caP90jFpAT
— Thomas Nestico (@TJStats) May 23, 2026
In seven appearances at the Double-A level, with five starts, the Orioles pitching prospect stands in the 90th percentile or better in swinging strikes, contact, and FIP. Dzierwa also held a high 40% chase rate in High-A, along with a 6% walk rate. The only category he consistently struggled in was groundball percentage at an average of 41%.
Dzierwa has only surrendered two home runs in 76 1/3 innings of work and walked only 19 batters, suggesting an uptick in his grades could be on the way. One real blemish on his report card is the seven hit batters in the same time frame, which creates traffic on the bases. He still can strike out 10 in a five-inning start, and he only walks one batter per start.
The numbers represent a continued trend since his 2025 junior season at Michigan State University, where his ERA declined from 4.07 in 2024 to 1.82. There was also a notable improvement in his strikeout rate, his home run rate, and especially his walk rate. The second-round Orioles pitching prospect is showing that his junior year was not a simple transition or fluke year, but rather a continuation.
Dzierwa’s Development Critical for the Orioles’ Future
The 22-year-old’s sudden jump in his standing within the organization comes at a time when the team is still struggling to find its ace pitcher. Trevor Rogers has suffered a serious regression from his successful 2025 campaign, while Brandon Young and Kyle Bradish are attempting to find a consistent level. Shane Baz, on the other hand, has not been the investment the team traded for in late 2025.
In the team’s farm system, there have been warning signs with top pitching prospect Luis De Leon, showing regression in some areas. Despite coming into Double-A with a 1.69 ERA in 2025, he’s surrendered a career-high nine home runs in 56.1 innings, along with a ballooning walk rate. Trey Gibson has also run into issues at the major-league level, while prospect Juaron Watts-Brown, acquired at last year’s trade deadline, has similar struggles with home runs and walks.
Baseball America updated its Orioles top 30 prospects list.
Here are Baltimore’s top risers from the preseason list to now:
LHP Joseph Dzierwa — #17 ➡️ #2
RHP JT Quinn — #21 ➡️ #7
C Ethan Anderson — #24 ➡️ #14
LHP Sebastian Gongora — #30 ➡️ #15
C Creed Willems — NR ➡️ #18…— Jacob Calvin Meyer (@jcalvinmeyer) July 1, 2026
With Dzierwa in the mix, however, it might give the team a reason to trade De Leon, Gibson, or Watts-Brown for pitching help during the deadline. The rising Orioles pitching prospect could complement Boston Bateman down the line if both are called up.
Baltimore cannot mess up Dzierwa’s development as they have with De Leon or Watts-Brown, where they came in with high hopes and struggled. It’s a matter of tailoring their coaching style and philosophy to cater to Dzierwa’s strengths. Whether they can do that while giving him the confidence to take risks in his arsenal will be the ultimate deciding factor.
Main Photo Credit: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports
