Michigan State Baseball pitcher Joseph Dzierwa is going to have some extra motivation while on the mound this season.
For each strikeout Dzierwa racks up this season, he will donate to Charitable Gift America's "Caught Looking for Luca" fund.
6-year-old Luca Wright from Lapeer, Mich., is battling B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Wright connected with the Michigan State baseball team this year thanks to Team IMPACT, a non-profit organization that matches kids facing serious illness and disability with college sports teams.
Luca - who lives with his parents, Lacey and Larry, and his sisters, Nova and Sola - loves baseball, playing Super Mario games on his Nintendo Switch, card games, Spiderman, and music.
“As a mom, I am so proud of Joseph and the entire MSU baseball team – Coach (Jake) Boss sure does have some special young men on his team,” Lacey Wright said in a release announcing the new fund. “This is such a beautiful way to help support our boy and our family. We are continually amazed at the love and generosity of so many people who hear of Luca’s story."
“Luca absolutely loves being a member of the MSU baseball squad and we feel blessed to be part of such an amazing community,” she continued. “We can’t say thank you enough for the joy you have brought and continue to bring to our boy!”
Last season, Dzierwa totaled 91 strikeouts, which was second in the Big Ten. In three appearances so far in the 2025 season, Dzierwa has racked up an impressive 33 punch outs. He currently has the second-most strikeouts in the country this season.
“Luca is a true inspiration to me and to the entire Spartan team,” Dzierwa said. “Anything that we can do to put a smile on his face and be there for him during this journey – we are all in. He’s a great kid and we are proud to be in his corner.”
CGA will facilitate those who wish to join Dzierwa in donating to the “Caught Looking for Luca” fund through its website.
Those who want to donate can choose a set amount of money per strikeout, which will be calculated at the end of the season, or a one-time donation.
CGA will match all contributions to the fund up to $10,000.
“Heading into our fourth academic year of writing NIL contracts as MSU’s original and most trusted NIL fund, the decision to offer the match was an easy one when one of our partners, like Joseph, shows this level of maturity and commitment,” said Dr. Thomas Dieters, the board president of CGA.
“Supporting Luca in this way was entirely Joseph’s idea and we couldn’t be prouder of him,” Dieters continued. “All of our NIL contracts require the student to give 5% of their payments to a charity of their choice. Joseph is obviously taking this experience to the next level.”
To learn more about the “Caught Looking for Luca” fund, please click here.
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