Jacob Misiorowski: From Junior College to MLB Stardom

Jacob Walter Misiorowski, nicknamed "the Miz," is an American professional baseball pitcher for the Milwaukee Brewers of Major League Baseball (MLB). His journey to the majors is a testament to his talent and perseverance, marked by key decisions and impressive performances at every level.

Early Years and Junior College

Born on April 3, 2002, Misiorowski's path to professional baseball wasn't straightforward. After his senior high school season was canceled due to the COVID pandemic, and his scholarship spot at Oklahoma State was pulled, he landed at Crowder College, a small junior college in Neosho, Missouri. According to Crowder head coach Travis Lallemand, Misiorowski was "out of sight, out of mind" for many scouts. He also missed nearly all of his freshman season at Crowder with a knee injury.

However, a video of Misiorowski throwing 98 mph with a wipeout breaking ball at a Prep Baseball Report event in Kansas City in the fall of 2021 quickly changed his trajectory. "People had him out of sight, out of mind," Crowder head coach Travis Lallemand said. "When he came back in the fall it was pretty immediate attention. He threw at this huge event, and once that video got out that’s when everyone like LSU got on him. They came around on him fast."

During the fall of his second year at Crowder College, Misiorowski committed to play for Louisiana State University (LSU) as a transfer for his junior season.

The LSU Connection That Wasn't

Around the same time Misiorowski committed to LSU, so did Paul Skenes, then a two-way star at the Air Force Academy. In retrospect, the two would have formed one of the most electric and dominant pitching combos in recent college baseball memory, as extraordinary as the Gerrit Cole/Trevor Bauer combo at UCLA in 2011.

Skenes put together one of the greatest collegiate pitching seasons of all time, striking out 209 over 122 innings and going 13-2 with a 1.69 ERA.

Misiorowski says he came “close” to winding up at LSU rather than going pro, and that he wouldn’t have “taken any less” than what the Brewers offered him in the second round. Tigers head coach Jay Johnson was one of dozens of coaches to reach out to Misiorowski after a video came out on social media in the fall of 2021 of a gangly right-hander throwing 98 mph with a wipeout breaking ball at a Prep Baseball Report event in Kansas City.

By attending a junior college, Misiorowski became draft-eligible in 2022 while Skenes was LSU-bound no matter what. Misiorowski struck out 136 across 76 innings for Crowder that season, including an 18-strikeout performance in a regional game during Crowder’s run to the JuCo World Series, but it was once again a standout showcase performance - this time at the MLB Draft Combine - that all but ensured he wouldn’t wind up in Baton Rouge.

Ultimately, Misiorowski never made it to campus. While LSU steamrolled its way to a national championship anyway, it’s fun to think about how even more unstoppable the Tigers could have been with a second flamethrowing phenom in the rotation with Skenes. “It would have been crazy,” Misiorowski said. “I mean, they didn’t need me, but it would have been really cool to have me. It would have been fun.”

Drafted by the Brewers

The Milwaukee Brewers selected Misiorowski 63rd overall in the 2022 Major League Baseball draft. When the Brewers called at pick No. 63 offering first-round money of $2.35 million as a signing bonus, there was nothing Tigers head coach Jay Johnson could do to get Misiorowski to campus.

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He signed with the Brewers on July 27, 2022, for an over-slot signing bonus of $2.35 million; the slot value for the 63rd pick that year was $1.1 million. “There was no question,” Lallemand said. “When he called me right after, it wasn’t a question of whether he was going to sign. That was the easiest decision for him, getting first-round money with the signing bonus.”

Rise Through the Minors

After signing, Misiorowski quickly ascended through the Brewers' minor league system. In August 2024, the Brewers promoted Misiorowski to the Triple-A Nashville Sounds and moved him to the bullpen for a potential major league role later in their season.

MLB Debut and All-Star Selection

Misiorowski's MLB debut was nothing short of spectacular. He earned a win after throwing five innings of no-hit baseball. On July 11, 2025, Misiorowski was named to the National League All-Star roster as a replacement for Matthew Boyd, making him the fastest player in league history to become an All-Star after just five major league games. His selection was controversial due to his lack of experience in the majors.

Regular Season Performance

Misiorowski struggled after his All-Star Game appearance, getting scored on in each of his last 9 appearances, where he went 1-2 with a 5.89 ERA. Misiorowski finished the regular season with a 5-3 record, a 4.36 ERA, and 87 strikeouts in 66 innings pitched. He also gained some Rookie of the Year votes, finishing 11th in National League Rookie of the Year voting.

Postseason Impact

Misiorowski was kept on the Brewers postseason roster and made his postseason debut in game 2 of the National League Division Series against the Chicago Cubs. Misiorowski would pitch 3 shutout innings, with 4 strikeouts and would get credit for the win in a 7-3 Brewers win. Misiorowski would also pitch in relief in the series-deciding game 5, pitching 4 innings and surrendering only one run, along with 3 strikeouts, in a 3-1 Brewers win, which Misiorowski would also get credit for. Misiorowski would finish the NLDS with a 2-0 record and a 1.29 ERA, along with 7 strikeouts in 7 innings pitched. Misiorowski would appear in game 3 of the National League Championship Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers, pitching 5 innings and surrendering 1 earned run, while striking out 9 batters, but would get hit with the loss.

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Misiorowski vs. Skenes: A Highly Anticipated Matchup

The marquee pitching matchup of the year in the National League Central - heck, maybe in all of baseball - has been a long time in the making. The paths of Jacob Misiorowski and Paul Skenes nearly converged at LSU, but they finally met as opponents on June 25 at American Family Field when the Milwaukee Brewers faced off against the Pittsburgh Pirates.

Misiorowski and Skenes didn’t meet until Monday, June 23, in the outfield at American Family Field, two days before their much-anticipated matchup on the mound.

Misiorowski, though, has copied some of Skenes’ preparation, including the use of a waterbag during bullpen work. It was passed along from Skenes to Misiorowski by Class AAA Nashville pitching coach Justin Meccage, who last year was the Pirates bullpen coach. “I think it’s his work ethic,” Misiorowski answered about what he admires most about Skenes.

If Misiorowski can replicate even some of Skenes’ success in the game - and he’s off to a good start with 11 no-hit innings to begin his career before finally relenting in the seventh inning of his last start - then even better. “Skenes is established, in his second year coming off a good year, and he’s been pretty darn consistent,” Brewers manager Pat Murphy said. “He’s one of the best in the game. Miz is in his third start. It’s unfair to compare them, for sure. Unfair to Skenes, you know what I mean?”

That isn’t going to stop the hype around one of the most exciting young pitching matchups in the regular season in a while.

Pitching Style and Admiration for Skenes

Misiorowski's talent is undeniable. He possesses a fastball that has reached 102 mph and a wipeout breaking ball, making him a formidable opponent for any hitter.

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