One of the more decorated baseball players in the history of West Virginia University baseball is returning for a role with the Mountaineer program.
Jedd Gyorko, a Morgantown native and former All-American at WVU, has been announced a Special Assistant to the Head Coach by new head coach Steve Sabins.
A graduate of University High School, Gyorko enjoyed a strong career with the Mountaineers from 2008-10. He went to play eight seasons in Major League Baseball with the San Diego Padres, St. Louis Cardinals, Los Angeles Dodgers and Milwaukee Brewers.
“I am thrilled to have Jedd Gyorko and his family part of our team,” Sabins said. “The most accomplished Mountaineer baseball player of all time is a special communicator and teammate. He understands team dynamics at the core level and will be an incredible resource to our players and staff. Jedd reached the pinnacle of baseball and was an elite player. He is humble, selfless, caring and wants to help move Mountaineer Baseball forward. Jedd will aid in player development, alumni relations, and fundraising. I’m excited to name Jedd the Special Assistant to the Head Coach and have him part of what we are building here.”
During his playing days with the Mountaineers, Gyorko started 168 games at second base and shortstop, while recording 281 hits and a .404 career batting average. His career totals include 207 runs, 73 doubles, five triples, 35 home runs, 178 runs batted in and six stolen bases.
Gyorko is West Virginia’s all-time leader in extra-base hits (113) and batting average (.404), tied for second in career home runs (35), second in career runs (207), RBIs (178), doubles (73), assists (475) and total bases (469), third in career hits (281) and slugging percentage (.674), fifth in career on-base percentage (.470), tied for fifth in career sacrifice flies (14) and tied for eighth in career walks (92).
In 2010, Gyorko was chosen in the MLB Draft’s second round with the 59th overall pick by the San Diego Padres.
Gyorko went to finish sixth that season in the National League Rookie of the Year voting, while compiling a .992 fielding percentage at second base — the highest ever in MLB for a rookie second baseman. It marked his first of three seasons with the Padres.
Gyorko also played three-plus seasons for the Cardinals, before joining the Dodgers for a brief stint and then the Brewers for what was his final MLB season in 2020.
For his MLB career, Gyorko had a .245 batting average with 121 home runs and 370 RBIs.
Gyorko has past coaching experience as manager of the West Virginia Black Bears in 2021 and 2022.