Griffin Stieg’s path back to the English Field mound has been a saga in three parts: His injury, a summer of decisions and, ultimately, his return.
Let’s start with the ending. Stieg pitched for Virginia Tech on Saturday for the first time since the penultimate regular-season game in 2024, shoving 4 ⅔ innings of three-hit ball with four strikeouts.
He pitched a uniquely contact-heavy game for his standards — Stieg averaged nearly six strikeouts in four-plus inning outings in his last full season — retiring eight of William & Mary’s first 10 batters in that fashion. But that wasn’t indicative of any change he made in the 636 days between his last two starts. In fact, six of the 10 contact outs he issued on Saturday came with two strikes in the count.
“It’s not a new approach or anything, I think it’s just how it went today,” Stieg said. “Not gonna complain about quick contact outs. Strikeouts will come. Just fill the zone up, see what happens. I’m not looking to strike everybody out, but those will come, for sure.”
Stieg was nervous entering Saturday — understandably so. His recovery was arduous. He had no rhythm to go off; not even a summer ball appearance. The first time the now-senior pitched since his injury was only last fall in practice, and he’d exclusively thrown against his own team since.
“It was definitely anxiety-driven,” Stieg said of his first game back. “But you use that to fuel yourself instead of letting it hinder you. You use that for motivation and confidence. You can turn that into something really good. That’s what I tried to do.”
His outing ultimately went well, finishing after two fourth-inning strikeouts and more than a few celebratory words and backslaps in the dugout thereafter.
“I was happy for him,” Hokies head coach John Szefc said. “Happy for him, happy for his family. That’s a long time to be rehabbing — around 15 months. He was patient throughout the whole process. It’s good to see a young player get somewhat rewarded for his patience and work.”
Just one summer ago, Szefc thought Stieg’s time at Tech was over. The McLean native entered the transfer portal last June, just a few days after the firing of former Hokies pitching coach Ryan Fecteau, who initially followed Szefc from Maryland in 2018 and had a good relationship with Stieg since he committed to Tech in June of 2022.
“There were a lot of unknowns with the pitching coach change,” Stieg said. “So [the transfer portal] was the route I thought would be best.”
He committed to Alabama in early July. It was a significant blow to the Tech pitching staff after losing now-Auburn ace Jake Marciano the month before.
However, it looked like Stieg may not even suit up for the Crimson Tide with the MLB Draft in mid-July. He was a serious prospect before getting hurt, after all.
The Seattle Mariners drafted Stieg in the 18th round, with the 542nd overall pick. With only 20 total rounds, however, that pick was more of a flyer — and for Stieg, likely didn’t come with much long-term security. The draft didn’t go how he wanted. Back to school it was.
So, why a return to Virginia Tech over one of the most resourced schools in college baseball’s strongest conference? Stieg figured that out while spending time with his family at home post-draft.
“Being closer to home, [continuing to talk with Hokies coaches] and everything like that, it just felt like being back to VT was the best option,” Stieg said. “Everything I’ve been through here and the coaching staff, it was just a family decision to come back — where we thought the best fit would be.”
Szefc said that the “sell” to Stieg, if there was one, was getting him acquainted with the new pitching operation and pitching coach Doug Willey, who both Stieg and Szefc have lauded this offseason. It didn’t take much convincing outside of that.
“I didn’t re-recruit Griffin Stieg to come back here, and I think he would tell you the same thing,” Szefc said.” I think he would tell you he came back because he chose to come back. He’s a Northern Virginia guy who spent three years here, going through surgery and rehab. He had options, so when you have a guy like that come back, it makes you feel okay about how things are being run.”
While it's unclear whether Alabama and Virginia Tech offered Stieg money, or how much if they did, 18th round MLB Draft picks typically receive a $100,000-$150,000 signing bonus and a modest salary. Szefc said Stieg would’ve been ill-advised to prioritize money.
“I always tell younger guys, even recruits, if you’re chasing a dollar when you’re 19, 20 years old, I don’t think it’s a smart thing,” Szefc said. “You’re going to chase a dollar the rest of your life when you’ve got a family and bills. If you’re trying to get a dollar, a new truck, as opposed to an opportunity for development, I think it’s a mistake.”
It was a difficult summer for Stieg, but having a surplus of suitors was not a bad problem to have. The season before, however, was exactly that. Despite being unable to appear in any games, Stieg traveled with the Hokies and participated in team activities, though the only work he could do was rehab-related. For the most part, especially on gamedays, all he could do was watch.
“It was tough,” Stieg said. “It was a lot of resilience. I had to show up to the field every day knowing that I can't play, but you’ve got to show up and do your best for your future self.
“Prepare now so you don't have to do it again later. Be there for the team when you know things aren't going your way. Just be the best teammate you could possibly be. That was my motto.”
And Stieg lived by it — dutifully — throughout the 2025 season and the offseason before it. It wasn’t how he saw his career going, but that choice was made for him on May 17, 2024, at Disharoon Park in Charlottesville; Stieg’s first-career Saturday start.
He was injured in the second inning of that game, clearly feeling discomfort in his throwing arm. The score was 1-0 Tech, and Stieg hadn’t yielded a hit to any of his five batters. The Hokies’ bullpen faltered behind him, though, and the day ended as an ultimately meaningless 13-3 loss to the Cavaliers.
It was initially thought that Stieg reactivated a lat injury he suffered two starts prior against North Carolina, but a deeper look revealed a torn UCL and the immediate need for Tommy John surgery. Stieg’s 2024 was over, and his 2025 went with it.
It felt like his next start might never come, but it did on Saturday against the Tribe. Finally.
“Being here is amazing,” Stieg said after the game. “I don’t regret picking [the Hokies] at all. I want to be here supporting the team, just bringing everything I can to the table to go to Omaha.”
In a way, he’s right back where he left off: Virginia Tech’s day two starter, with a ton of excitement surrounding him. But the Hokies believe he’ll show more than he did as a star sophomore.
“He’s just been through a lot,” said Hokies ace Brett Renfrow, in his third year as Stieg’s staffmate. “That guy’s a grinder and an exciting one to watch, so it’s gonna be really fun. He definitely looks better than the last time he was out there. I think we’ll see that coming soon.”