Michigan State Ace Joseph Dzierwa Defies Draft Expectations, Signs Under-Slot Deal With Orioles

The Baltimore Orioles have pulled off another draft coup, signing Michigan State left-handed pitcher Joseph Dzierwa for $875,000—nearly $300,000 below the slot value for his 108th overall selection—in a move that showcases both the organization’s player development reputation and the rising star’s calculated gamble on himself. The hard-throwing junior, who rocketed up draft boards after striking out 127 batters in just 89 innings for the Spartans this season, passed on higher bonus demands from other clubs to join what he called “baseball’s premier pitching factory,” forgoing his senior year in East Lansing for a chance to develop under Baltimore’s renowned coaching infrastructure. The deal, finalized Wednesday after Dzierwa’s physical in Sarasota, provides the Orioles with additional flexibility to pursue tougher signs with their remaining draft pool money while giving the 21-year-old southpaw a clear pathway to accelerated development.

Dzierwa’s decision to accept less money than his draft position typically commands speaks volumes about how players now evaluate organizations beyond just signing bonuses. Multiple sources confirmed at least three teams selecting after Baltimore had verbal agreements in place with Dzierwa’s camp for offers exceeding $1.1 million, but the chance to work with pitching coach Chris Holt and the Orioles’ biomechanics team proved irresistible. “This wasn’t about the biggest check today,” Dzierwa told reporters via Zoom from Camden Yards, where he took his physical. “It’s about becoming the best version of myself and reaching the majors faster. When you see what they’ve done with guys like Grayson Rodriguez and DL Hall, it’s an easy choice.” His agent, Scott Boras, typically known for maximizing client earnings, surprisingly endorsed the under-slot deal—a testament to Baltimore’s industry-wide reputation for pitcher development.

The Orioles’ scouting department had tracked Dzierwa since his sophomore year at MSU, when his fastball sat 88-91 mph with inconsistent command. But their analytics team identified mechanical tweaks that could unlock more velocity, and their projections proved prescient—by this past season, Dzierwa was touching 97 mph with a slider that generated a 42% whiff rate in Big Ten play. Baltimore’s area scout Jake Baker, who played college ball against Dzierwa, became the pitcher’s primary liaison and sold the organization’s vision for his future. “They showed me data that my arm action was creating unnecessary drag,” Dzierwa explained. “Small adjustments added four mph to my fastball in one offseason. Imagine what they can do with a full year of resources.”

Financially, the deal benefits both parties in nuanced ways. While Dzierwa’s $875,000 bonus is technically under slot, it includes a unique education package that fully funds the completion of his Michigan State degree—a provision the Orioles have increasingly used to attract college juniors. The contract also contains accelerated performance bonuses that could pay an additional $400,000 if he reaches Double-A within two years, along with a roster guarantee that prevents him from being left in minor league camp beyond 2026. For Baltimore, the savings allow them to allocate more money toward later-round high school picks like 11th-rounder Tyson Lewis, a Nebraska prep shortstop who had a strong college commitment but may now sign for overslot money.

On the mound, Dzierwa brings a polished three-pitch mix that could see him move quickly through Baltimore’s system. His fastball now sits 93-95 mph with elite induced vertical break (19.8 inches on average, ranking in the 92nd percentile among NCAA pitchers), while his slider and changeup both grade as above-average offerings. What separates him from most college lefties is his ability to manipulate pitch shapes—he can throw both a tighter, shorter slider and a sweeping version with more horizontal break, giving him weapons against both right-handed and left-handed hitters. Michigan State coach Jake Boss Jr. compared his former ace’s pitchability to former big leaguer Mark Buehrle, noting Dzierwa’s uncanny feel for sequencing and tempo.

The Orioles plan to start Dzierwa at Low-A Delmarva with the expectation he’ll finish the season at High-A Aberdeen if he adjusts well to professional hitting. His development path mirrors that of recent Baltimore success stories like Cade Povich and Chayce McDermott—college arms who refined their arsenals in the minors before becoming top-100 prospects. Assistant GM Sig Mejdal has already mapped out a preliminary plan to help Dzierwa develop a cutter, which would give him a fourth pitch to combat righties and further differentiate his fastball variants.

For Michigan State, losing Dzierwa is both a blow and a badge of honor. The Spartans hadn’t produced a top-5 round pick since 2016, and his rapid development under pitching coach Mark Van Ameyde provides a blueprint for future recruits. “Joey put in the work to transform his body and his stuff,” Van Ameyde said. “But what sets him apart is how he processes information. The Orioles are getting a guy who’ll watch 30 minutes of PitchCom data before breakfast.” That cerebral approach should serve Dzierwa well in Baltimore’s data-driven environment, where pitchers receive detailed breakdowns of their mechanics, pitch shapes, and tunneling effectiveness after each outing.

The signing also continues Baltimore’s strategic emphasis on collegiate pitching in the draft’s middle rounds. While many teams chase high-ceiling high school arms with early picks, the Orioles have increasingly targeted polished college hurlers with one or two exploitable traits they believe their development system can enhance. Dzierwa fits this mold perfectly—a pitcher with advanced command and a projectable frame (6’3″, 210 lbs) who just needed professional coaching to unlock another gear. His 3.18 ERA in the pitcher-friendly Big Ten might not jump off the page, but his underlying metrics (13.2 K/9, 2.41 FIP) suggest he was among college baseball’s most dominant arms when accounting for competition and ballpark factors.

As Dzierwa begins his professional journey, the implications of his under-slot deal extend beyond just contract value. In an era where players increasingly prioritize development opportunities over initial bonuses, Baltimore’s ability to attract talent at below-market rates speaks to their organizational credibility. It also reflects a broader industry trend where analytically advanced teams can “sell” their player development as part of the compensation package—a concept that could reshape how draft bonuses are structured in future collective bargaining agreements.

For now, the Orioles get another potential mid-rotation arm at a discount, Michigan State gains a recruiting showcase, and Dzierwa bets on himself to outearn his draft position through development. It’s the rare baseball transaction where everyone wins—assuming that live left arm translates as projected. If Baltimore’s recent pitching successes are any indication, Joseph Dzierwa might soon make $875,000 look like the steal of the 2024 draft.