Former Valparaiso University baseball pitcher Trent Turzenski’s career officially reached the next level on Tuesday.
Turzenski, who signed with the Baltimore Orioles as an undrafted free agent following last month’s Major League Baseball Draft, made his professional debut with 1 2/3 scoreless innings for the Single-A Delmarva Shorebirds in a game against the Salem Red Sox.
“I was hoping to get drafted, but didn’t hear my name called,” Turzenski said. “Getting that call after the draft from a team saying that they wanted me, there were a lot of emotions going on. It was a really happy feeling to be able to work through everything from youth to high school to college to injuries. Everything came together for me in that moment; it was a really good moment in my baseball career.”
Turzenski accepted the deal with the Orioles on July 17, and flew out early in the morning on July 21 to report to the team’s spring-training facility in Sarasota, Fla. He was there for two weeks, throwing bullpens and one live session. On Sunday, Aug. 4, the Orioles sent Turzenski to Roanoke, Va. – the home of the Salem Red Sox – to join the Shorebirds.
That set up the right-hander’s debut, which came in a high-leverage spot as he tried to preserve a 2-2 tie with runners at the corners and one out in the bottom of the eighth. After a caught stealing, he got out of the inning with his first pro strikeout, stranding the tying run at third. Turzenski stayed in the game with the score still even at two in the bottom of the ninth. After a double and stolen base to start the inning, he retired three straight including a key strikeout with one out and a man at third to send the game to extras.
“They sent out who was hot for the game, so I knew I was going to get in at some point,” Turzenski said. “Luckily, I got in during a tight situation. I had to get after guys; it was no time to mess around. I was really happy with how it went.”
Turzenski spent his five-year collegiate career in a Valpo program that is helmed by Brian Schmack, a former professional pitcher in his own right whose career peaked at the highest level when he reached the big leagues with the Detroit Tigers in 2003.
“We’re excited for Trent,” Schmack said. “It’s every guy’s dream to continue playing after college. He gets that opportunity. As long as you’ve got a jersey on your back, you’ve got an opportunity to continue to play baseball. We wish him nothing but the best.”
Turzenski logged 134 1/3 innings and appeared in 39 games for Valpo from 2020 to 2024.
“I love the program,” Turzenski said. “I loved seeing it grow during the time I was there while trying to get established in the Missouri Valley Conference. I love the coaching staff. A lot of my best friends are guys who I played with at Valpo. I cherish a lot of those relationships that I made with those guys.”
One of those relationships was with left-handed pitcher Jake Miller, who was drafted by the Detroit Tigers in the eighth round of the 2022 MLB Draft. When Turzenski arrived in Florida to report to the O’s spring-training site, by an amazing coincidence, Miller was pitching for the Lakeland Flying Tigers that night in a road game against the Bradenton Marauders in Bradenton, Fla. Turzenski took a 20-minute Uber ride from his hotel to the stadium to watch his former Valpo roommate pitch.
On a night where one Valpo-turned-pro pitcher was on the mound and another was in the stands, Miller picked up the win with five shutout innings of two-hit ball while striking out 10. The southpaw continued a stellar season for the Tigers’ Single-A affiliate, improving to 8-1 with a glittering 1.16 ERA in 18 appearances spanning 62 1/3 innings. He has struck out 81 against 14 walks in 2024.
“It was cool to see Jake pitch, I wasn’t sure when I’d have that opportunity again,” Turzenski said. “It’s good to see him doing so well.”
Reaching the professional stage of his collegiate journey is extra special for Turzenski, who overcame a significant injury during his collegiate tenure with a long recovery from Tommy John surgery, which cost him much of the 2022 season and nearly all of the 2023 campaign.
“I had some aspirations of playing pro my junior year, but I got Tommy John and the injury took a little longer than most,” he said. “I was able to fight back and come out strong to get this opportunity. Usually, the surgery takes about 12 months, so I was predicting I could be back at some point the following season. I had some arm troubles getting back and pitched in just one game vs. Southern Illinois. After that season ended, I got back into throwing, but my arm still didn’t feel great. There was a lot of doubt in my mind whether things were going to come together again, and luckily it just took a little bit more time and I was able to get back on the field.”
Turzenski’s focus now turns to continuing to earn his spot and finishing out this year strong.
“I want to keep improving on my pitches and my velocity,” he said. “I’m working on building my strength and my body and everything that goes along with that. I’m hoping to pitch well and keep rising through the ranks.”
Click here for more on Valpo baseball players in the professional ranks.
