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Draft | Prospect Scouting Reports | 4/8/2025

PG Draft Spotlight: Joe Dzierwa

Tyler Kotila

Joseph Dzierwa

Position: LHP
Height: 6-8
Weight: 200
Bats/Throws: R-L
Birthdate: April 21st, 2004
High School: Otsego
City, State: Haskins, Ohio
College Team: Michigan State

Frame/Delivery/Arm Action

Dzierwa has an extremely projectable 6-foot-8, 200-pound frame with long levers and plenty of length throughout. He’s got wiry strength and some athleticism, which makes him a good mover down the slope. There’s projection that remains with the likelihood of adding to the frame with a big-league organization. He’s a left-handed pitcher who works out of the stretch with a closed-off setup. He uses a toe tap, working into his set position. He showcases a leg lift around the waist, with coil and some torque to it, before moving down the slope. It’s tall-and-fall mechanics with a smooth and deliberate move downhill. He gets good extension with the lead leg working downhill. He has a longer takeaway with the arm, utilizing a full arm circle through the back. He hides it well and creates some whip working through it, pitching from a medium three-quarters arm slot. There’s some deception to it, making it challenging for hitters to pick up. He repeats it well and can replicate the actions. He works quickly on the mound, uptempo between pitches, staying in attack mode – though he does a good job staying in command of the game and remaining even-keeled on the mound.

Arsenal/Pitch Mix

It’s a full arsenal for the southpaw, with good bridges between pitches. Dzierwa has a fastball that works in the low to mid-90s. He’s been up to 95 mph this spring in several outings and has seemingly done a good job showing a tick-up. The fastball spins above 2,500 RPM and can miss a lot of bats. He induces the swing-and-miss, hunting whiffs up in the zone and above, showing carry to it. His best off speed pitch is the changeup, working the low-80s, with outstanding fading depth to it. Dzierwa kills spin down into the 1,700s, and the pitch just falls off the table. He commands it well and can land it for strikes. He’s also got a slider in the mix, working the mid-70s with a good 1-7 shape and some tilt to it. It spins above 2,300 RPM. He also has a cutter in the mix to bridge the arsenal, working into the low- to mid-80s with that pitch. It’s a quality arsenal that has plenty of traits to like. He misses bats, and while it’s primarily fastball/changeup, he has shown he can miss bats and limit damage from the opposition.

Abilities/Traits To Like

The big draw with Dzierwa comes with the frame and pitch mix. It’s a desirable frame with projection that remains and a lot to like moving forward. There’s reason to believe he’ll continue to add to the frame with a pro organization, adding strength/muscle mass into the frame at the next level. The pitch mix speaks for itself. The changeup is presently a plus pitch, with the fastball grading out that way as well. A left-hander who can miss bats with the heater, sequence to beat, and limit damage will continue to draw interest. It’s a clean-arm action, and he’s shown success in the Big Ten each of the last two years and has done it again so far this year. Another year as a front-line starter for the Spartans will only help his draft buzz.

Summation

While Dzierwa did not open the year overly high on most draft boards, he’s a big riser early this spring. I’m bullish on the upside here, and it's a profile that I think is worthy of a big discussion based on what he has done this spring, non-conference or not. Looking at the college pitching in this class, it's hard not to put him near the top of the list with the likes of Gabe Davis, Zach Root, Chase Shores, and Nate Snead. He’s every bit of a Top 75 prospect in my eyes and could easily be someone who gets popped earlier than most think. A 6-foot-8 southpaw up to 95 mph with a plus-changeup and four in the mix, there’s a lot to like. It’s still early, but it feels like he could be a value pick in the second round for an organization buying into the profile.

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