It was a classic welcome-to-the-big-leagues moment for the Brewers’ prodigy Jacob Misiorowski when he took the mound against Shohei Ohtani on Tuesday. For the third pitch, Ohtani went ahead with a leadoff home run, which could have easily rattled any youngster on such a grand stage. But what followed instead was a display of pure dominance and mental fortitude. The rookie settled in and struck out 12 batters in 6 innings.
Misiorowski showed the heart of a lion, which led the Brewers to a 3-1 win. He finished his night having outdueled Clayton Kershaw, earning the win with a final line of – 6 innings pitched, 4 hits, one walk, one run allowed, and a career-high 12 strikeouts. That performance had to grab eyeballs and it did. Of note was the response from a Hall of Famer.
Red Sox legend Pedro Martinez got onto social to share his thoughts on Misiorowski’s performance. “Jacob Misiorowski is special. He’s got velocity, movement, and that bulldog mentality. Him, Paul Skenes, and Tarik Skubal look like the future of pitching to me. Long legs, long arms—built to dominate,” he wrote.
Jacob Misiorowski is special. He’s got velocity, movement, and that bulldog mentality. Him, Paul Skenes, and Tarik Skubal look like the future of pitching to me. Long legs, long arms—built to dominate. #mlbontbs
— Pedro Martinez (@45PedroMartinez) July 9, 2025
Well, in his first five Major League starts, Misiorowski has simply been dominant. He is 4-1 at the moment with a great 2.81 ERA, which he has achieved over 25.2 innings. His 11 hitless innings to start his career is the second-longest streak by a rookie since 1961. No wonder he is being showered with praise and it isn’t just coming from former players; it is reverberating in the dugouts as well.
Brewers Manager Pat Murphy can actually see the resemblance between Misiorowski and Paul Skenes. “I’m not comparing them,” he said. “I’m just saying he [Misiorowski] has those types of qualities that make you think of a guy like Skenes.” Interestingly, after Misiorowski outdueled Skenes in late June, Murphy had said, “(Skenes is) one of the best in the game. Miz is in his third start. It’s unfair to compare them, for sure.”
Other managers have noticed the special talent as well. Pirates manager Don Kelly called the rookie’s stuff electric. “Power arm. I mean, it’s impressive… you can just see the electricity,” he said. Misiorowski’s veteran teammate, meanwhile, had a blunt take: “Good luck to the hitters… It seems like everybody throws 100 now. It’s cool. It’s good for the game.”
This league-wide recognition speaks volumes for just how influential Misiorowski’s arrival has been. But the 23-year-old hasn’t appeared out of nowhere. He has had to grind his way.
The path of a phenom: Misiorowski’s rise and control
Misiorowski’s journey started in Missouri at Grain Valley High School. In his junior year, he displayed brilliance with a 9-2 record and was named All-State for his minuscule 1.48 ERA.
After the COVID-19 pandemic put a halt to his senior year, Misiorowski attended Crowder College. It was there that he transformed into a true dominant force on the mound. An astonishing 136 strikeouts accompanied the exceptional 10-0 record he posted in 2022 in a mere 76 innings pitched.
Then, in 2022, the Milwaukee Brewers wisely drafted the young phenom 63rd overall. They signed him to a large $2.35 million over-slot bonus. From there, Misiorowski quickly rose through the ranks. In 2023, he was named to the All-Star Futures Game and struck out the side.
By early 2025, his dominant numbers in Triple-A Nashville, where he posted a 2.13 ERA with 80 strikeouts in 63.1 innings, made his MLB call-up an absolute certainty.
Looking at his pitch mix, we can easily understand the hype. Scouts have given Misiorowski’s powerful fastball an elite 80 grade rating. He regularly hits triple digits on the gun with a sharp, riding action. Also, he features a wicked 70-grade slider that sits in the mid-90s mph range. His power curve is another plus, which leaves hitters off balance. This devastating arsenal, however, comes with a major risk. His below-average, 40-grade control has led some to project him as a future reliever.
But the Paul Skenes comparison? Is that appropriate? Well, seems so. Both pitchers possess elite, 80-grade fastballs that can touch over 100 mph. They both possess wipeout secondary pitches as well that generate a ton of swings and misses. While Paul might have an edge in terms of advanced command, Misiorowski’s raw talent can surely match him there as well, moving forward. This duo can set the league ablaze in the years to come.
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