Gophers baseball gains commitment from junior college pitcher

Casey Kowalczyk posted a 3.24 earned-run average for Iowa Western Community College last season.

Gophers baseball coach Ty McDevitt. / Gopher Athletics

The Gophers baseball team gained a commitment from right-handed pitcher Casey Kowalczyk, a transfer from Iowa Western Community College, on Tuesday. 

Row the boat 〽️ #commited pic.twitter.com/geAqNPUMnx

— Casey Kowalczyk (@CaseyKowalczyk2) October 22, 2024

Kowalczyk made 14 appearances last season for the Reivers, an NJCAA Division I program, throwing 25 innings and posting a 3.24 earned-run average while allowing 24 hits and 11 runs — nine earned — and fanning 25.

He picked up a pair of wins and a pair of saves last year. 

Kowalczyk, a Viroqua, Wis., native, was a reliable reliever as a sophomore on a team that went 54-10 last season and won its district championship and reached the College World Series. 

According to Perfect Game College Baseball, Kowalczyk throws his fastball in the 92-94 mph range and a changeup in the low 80s.