Michigan State University Athletics
Photo by: Joe Noyes / Chesapeake Baysox
Former Spartan Joseph Dzierwa Selected To MLB Futures Game
7/1/2026 6:16:00 PM | Baseball
The Spartan southpaw alum will represent the Baltimore Orioles organization.
EAST LANSING, Mich. -- Former Michigan State baseball player Joseph Dzierwa has been selected to play in the Major League Baseball All-Star Futures Game, that will be played on Sunday, July 12 at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. First pitch is at Noon ET and will air on NBC.
Dzierwa is currently with the Chesapeake Baysox, the Baltimore Orioles Double-A affiliate. He was drafted in the second round with the 58th overall pick by the Orioles in the 2025 MLB Draft, marking the second MSU player selected in the second round in the last three MLB Drafts, as shortstop Mitch Jebb was selected in the second round and the 41st overall pick in the 2023 Draft. Dzierwa was the highest drafted Spartan pitcher since Mark Mulder was drafted as the No. 2 pick of the first round in the 1998 MLB Draft.Â
So far this season between High-A Frederick and Double-A Chesapeake, Dzierwa has 96 total strikeouts, which are the fourth-most across Minor League Baseball, and his 2.48 ERA is second-best among all MiLB pitchers with at least 70 innings pitched across all levels. Dzierwa has a 7-2 record with a 2.48 ERA in 15 appearances, making 13 starts total, with 35.2 IP in Double-A.
Dzierwa is currently ranked as the No. 12 Orioles prospect by the MLB Pipeline, as well as the No. 2 Orioles prospect and No. 89 overall prospect by Baseball America.Â
The MLB All-Star Futures Game is an annual exhibition with rosters consisting of baseball's top prospects in an American League versus National League format. Top prospects from all 30 Major League clubs meet at the location of the MLB All-Star Game to square off as a premiere showcase.
Also selected to the MLB All-Star Futures Game is Dzierwa's Chesapeake Baysox teammate, Ike Irish, who is the nephew of MSU baseball head coach Jake Boss Jr.
While at Michigan State, Dzierwa recently was just the third-ever MSU baseball student-athlete to earn both Athletic and Academic All-American Honors in the same season, joining Brock Vradenburg, who earned First-Team CSC Academic All-America® accolades and also named a Third-Team All-American by Collegiate Baseball, NCBWA, Baseball America and D1Baseball. The first Spartan to earn both academic and athletic All-America accolades was Dale Frietch in 1974.
Along with garnering CSC Academic All-America® accolades, Dzierwa was named a National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association (NCBWA) Second-Team All-America honoree, in addition to garnering Perfect Game Second-Team All-American accolades, and also receiving American Baseball Coaches Association (ABCA)/Rawlings Third-Team All-America honors and named to D1Baseball's Third-Team All-America list.
On the diamond, the Spartan southpaw was named a national semifinalist for three major awards, including USA Baseball's Golden Spikes Award and NCBWA's Dick Howser Trophy and College Baseball Foundation's National Pitcher of the Year Award, as presented by the College Baseball Foundation.Â
The Spartan southpaw was also named the Big Ten Pitcher of the Year and also garnered First Team All-B1G accolades. He was the only player that was a unanimous selection to the First Team.
Dzierwa became the second Spartan to be named B1G Pitcher of the Year, joining Kurt Wunderlich in 2011.
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Dzierwa is currently with the Chesapeake Baysox, the Baltimore Orioles Double-A affiliate. He was drafted in the second round with the 58th overall pick by the Orioles in the 2025 MLB Draft, marking the second MSU player selected in the second round in the last three MLB Drafts, as shortstop Mitch Jebb was selected in the second round and the 41st overall pick in the 2023 Draft. Dzierwa was the highest drafted Spartan pitcher since Mark Mulder was drafted as the No. 2 pick of the first round in the 1998 MLB Draft.Â
So far this season between High-A Frederick and Double-A Chesapeake, Dzierwa has 96 total strikeouts, which are the fourth-most across Minor League Baseball, and his 2.48 ERA is second-best among all MiLB pitchers with at least 70 innings pitched across all levels. Dzierwa has a 7-2 record with a 2.48 ERA in 15 appearances, making 13 starts total, with 35.2 IP in Double-A.
Dzierwa is currently ranked as the No. 12 Orioles prospect by the MLB Pipeline, as well as the No. 2 Orioles prospect and No. 89 overall prospect by Baseball America.Â
The MLB All-Star Futures Game is an annual exhibition with rosters consisting of baseball's top prospects in an American League versus National League format. Top prospects from all 30 Major League clubs meet at the location of the MLB All-Star Game to square off as a premiere showcase.
Also selected to the MLB All-Star Futures Game is Dzierwa's Chesapeake Baysox teammate, Ike Irish, who is the nephew of MSU baseball head coach Jake Boss Jr.
While at Michigan State, Dzierwa recently was just the third-ever MSU baseball student-athlete to earn both Athletic and Academic All-American Honors in the same season, joining Brock Vradenburg, who earned First-Team CSC Academic All-America® accolades and also named a Third-Team All-American by Collegiate Baseball, NCBWA, Baseball America and D1Baseball. The first Spartan to earn both academic and athletic All-America accolades was Dale Frietch in 1974.
Along with garnering CSC Academic All-America® accolades, Dzierwa was named a National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association (NCBWA) Second-Team All-America honoree, in addition to garnering Perfect Game Second-Team All-American accolades, and also receiving American Baseball Coaches Association (ABCA)/Rawlings Third-Team All-America honors and named to D1Baseball's Third-Team All-America list.
On the diamond, the Spartan southpaw was named a national semifinalist for three major awards, including USA Baseball's Golden Spikes Award and NCBWA's Dick Howser Trophy and College Baseball Foundation's National Pitcher of the Year Award, as presented by the College Baseball Foundation.Â
The Spartan southpaw was also named the Big Ten Pitcher of the Year and also garnered First Team All-B1G accolades. He was the only player that was a unanimous selection to the First Team.
Dzierwa became the second Spartan to be named B1G Pitcher of the Year, joining Kurt Wunderlich in 2011.
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