Michael Gurka

Photo by: Eric Miller

Photo by: Brace Hemmelgarn

Position:
Right-Handed Pitcher
Ht./Wt.:
6-3 / 205
Bats/Throws:
R/R
Class:
Senior
Hometown:
Clarendon Hills, Ill.
High School:
Joliet Catholic Academy

PRONUNCIATION

HONORS & AWARDS
Academic All-Big Ten (2021)

2023 | SENIOR Made four appearances as a senior and pitched 1.1 innings. Game Highlights: Tossed 0.2 innings vs. UC Santa Barbara (Feb. 19) · pitched 0.1 inning vs. Iowa (April 15) · appeared on senior day vs. Rutgers (May 20).

2022 | SUMMER Made eight appearances and pitched 5.0 innings for the Mankato Moondogs · struck out six hitters and allowed just five hits.

2022 | JUNIOR Made three appearances out of the bullpen, registering a perfect 0.00 ERA in 2.1 innings pitched · had three strikouts, five walks and didn't allow a hit in 12 batters faced. Game Highlights: Tossed a scoreless frame with a strikeout at Florida Atlantic (Feb. 21) · went 0.2 scoreless with one K at Rutgers (April 2).

2021 | SOPHOMORE Did not appear in any game action as a sophomore.

2020 | FRESHMAN Made two appearances out of the Minnesota bullpen · finished with a 40.50 ERA with one strikeout in 2/3 of an inning on the mound. Game Highlights: Recorded his first collegiate strikeout while pitching 2/3 of an inning against SDSU on March 4.

2019 SUMMER Competed for the Western Nebraska Pioneers of the Expedition League · appeared in five games, including four starts with a 5.00 ERA in 18 innings, striking out 19 batters.

BEFORE MINNESOTA A 2019 graduate of Joliet Catholic (Ill.) Academy · PBR’s no. 27 RHP and no. 70 overall player in Illinois · Perfect Game’s no. 19 RHP and no. 57 player in Illinois · Perfect Game 2018 All-American · Perfect Game 2017 Underclass All-American · 2019 ESCC All-Conference · 2018 All-State honoree · played for the Midwest Cincinnati Reds Scout Team · played travel ball for Top Tier Americans and head coach Griffin Phelps · 2018 WWBA, WWBA, Kernels, and Perfect Game World Series All-Tournament Team selection · lettered in three sports (baseball, football, and golf).

PERSONAL Native of Clarendon Hills, Illinois · son of Kristen and Michael Gurka · has three sisters, Abby, Emma and Mia · member of Academy Rotary Club, Habitat for Humanity, Young Life, and National Honor Society while at Joliet Catholic · plans to major in sport management with a minor in business administration.

WHY MINNESOTA "I chose the University of Minnesota because it felt like home. The coaching staff treated me like family and the winning culture in the Big Ten is definitely something I want to be part of. The mix of great academics along with elite competition is what I was looking for in the next four years of my life."