{"id":124925,"date":"2026-07-01T23:16:46","date_gmt":"2026-07-02T03:16:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/?p=124925"},"modified":"2026-07-01T23:16:57","modified_gmt":"2026-07-02T03:16:57","slug":"orioles-pitching-prospect-dzierwa","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/2026\/07\/01\/orioles-pitching-prospect-dzierwa\/","title":{"rendered":"Orioles Pitching Prospect Might Deliver Life and Stability to Rotation After 2026"},"content":{"rendered":"

A consistent problem for the Baltimore Orioles in recent years has been the lack of a solid pitching presence. After Corbin Burnes<\/a>‘ departure in 2024, the team’s rotation has been marred by injuries and poor performance<\/a>. Still, they have some pitching prospects<\/a> worth watching, and one has been quietly making his mark at the High-A and Double-A levels in 2026.<\/p>\n

Left-handed pitcher Joseph Dzierwa<\/a>, 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<\/a> alongside Ike Irish<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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Orioles Pitching Prospect Joseph Dzierwa Has Plenty of Promise<\/h2>\n

Average-Grade Arsenal with Big Upside<\/h2>\n

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.<\/p>\n

“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<\/a> 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\u2019t trust enough to be considered real weapons.”<\/span><\/p>\n

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Joseph Dzierwa (BAL) continues to solidify himself as one of the best pitching prospects in MLB<\/p>\n

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<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Thomas Nestico (@TJStats) May 23, 2026<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n