TONTOGANY, Ohio — There comes a time in everyone's journey to take the next step. In some instances it's planned, while fate decides others.
For Otsego High School alum Joseph Dzierwa, he experienced a little bit of both over the past month. On June 3, the southpaw made the difficult decision of leaving the program that provided him with a Division I baseball opportunity.
"I had a decent year but I want to get better," Dzierwa said. "I'm not okay with having a good year, I want to be great."
In the spring of 2024, Dzierwa started 14 games for the Spartans as a sophomore. He tallied a 6-3 record with a 4.07 ERA to earn 2nd team All-Big Ten honors.
His biggest impact came in the form of longevity and filth. The lefty finished second in the conference with 84 IP and 91 K, while also holding opponents to an average of .230; a year after being selected to the Big Ten All-Freshman team.
Solid numbers for Dzierwa, but stats that he felt could elevate with a change of scenery.
"To surround myself with great people helps me go toward what I'm looking for," Dzierwa said. "It was tough for me to walk away from Michigan State no doubt, because I have a lot of friends and relationships there."
Betting on himself and weighing his future, Dzierwa entered the transfer portal for the first time in his career. It didn't take long for him to realize he had suitors.
During a golf outing with MSU Director of Player Development Adam Eaton, who won a World Series with the Washington Nationals in 2019, Dzierwa learned how coveted his talent became.
"I told Adam Eaton that I wasn't going to be on my phone," Dzierwa said. "After the round was done, I looked at my phone and had 70 text messages. I'm like, 'wow, this is crazy.'"
With so many Power Four programs clamoring for the tall left-handed starter, choosing the best fit ended up becoming a little overwhelming.
"It was stressful at first," Dzierwa said. "But knowing in the long run it'll pay off is exciting for me to see."
On June 16, the decision to attend Vanderbilt University became reality after taking a visit to the campus in Nashville. The Commodores finished 38-23 last season, but more importantly provided the footprint for Dzierwa's ultimate goal.
Next summer, the former Otsego standout will be MLB draft eligible.
"I look at it as I have one year to prove myself," Dzierwa said. "I know I have so much more potential and I'm almost there, which is a good and bad feeling because sometimes you get greedy, but you also have to take a step back and treat it day by day."
The past month has reassured that assessment after spending time in the Cape Cod League. In three appearances, Dzierwa didn't give up a single run while striking out ten batters in eleven innings with a 1.36 WHIP, .238 average.
His focus centered around fine-tuning off-speed movement.
"I came into college with a fastball and curveball, rarely threw a changeup so I was like, I really need a third pitch," Dzierwa said. "We were working hard in the bullpen to develop another breaking ball."
Soon the next chapter of his career will begin in a new city, new uniform and new field.
Yet no matter how far the travel or where Dzierwa performs, the Haskins native will always be reminded of home, knowing the journey to become an SEC starting pitcher wouldn't have been possible without support.
"Got to give them credit," Dzierwa said. "My four years here (at Otsego) were pretty good. This is a great community."
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In high school, he starred in three different sports. Earning 1st-team All-Ohio as the Black Knights quarterback in football, while also setting a new program record in baseball with 115 strikeouts during his senior season.
Despite all that success, Dzierwa still feels blessed to be in his position.
"It's surreal. My sophomore year in high school I thought I only had two more years," Dzierwa said. "Then, I was lucky enough for Michigan State to take a chance on me."
With a competitive mentality and high ambition, he's now earned an opportunity to pitch in arguably the best conference in collegiate baseball: the SEC.
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