Jacob Misiorowski opens up about dyslexia, life off the mound and his rise with the Brewers

MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) — We've seen the dominant side of Milwaukee Brewers pitcher Jacob Misiorowski. But in an exclusive one-on-one interview, CBS 58 Sports Director Lance Allan learned something about The Miz few know anything about.

"Yeah, I don't know if the right word is diagnosed with dyslexia," Jacob Misiorowski said. "When I was a kid, I struggled with reading. Writing. Doing all that. You know, spelling is really a struggle for me. Flips my b's and d's and w's and m's. So, it's, you know, an interesting thing to deal with as a kid and not understand it. But no, I think it made me stronger."

Most in the Brewers organization didn't even know what Jacob has battled for most of his life.

"Second grade, right as we started reading," Misiorowski said. "And I was, like, struggling. And the teacher kind of pulled me aside and was helping me out and was like, I got really lucky. That teacher was excellent when it came to that stuff. So, she really understood and diagnosed it really quick. And so got me the help I needed to get through."

Like figuring out a scouting report, The Miz and those around him developed a plan and attacked it.

"Slow down," Misiorowski said. "Don't try and speed through it. And then another odd one that helped was changing the background of the article you're reading and changing it to like a red or a black and making the letters white."

"If it was black words on a white page, did it literally vibrate a little bit for you on the page?" asked CBS 58's Lance Allan.

"Yeah, so, like, yeah, the letters would jump," Misiorowski replied. "They would move. It's, you know, all sorts of stuff. Look at a word and say it's 'bed' and, like, it would be d-e-b. And it was like, you know. I know that's not what it says, but in my head that's what I see."

At first, it wasn't easy.

"You know I had my fair share of hardships when it came to that," Misiorowski said. "I think the biggest thing was that they're dealing with something too. I think that's when I realized that. Like I kind of, you know, understood that I'm right there with them. I just have to learn this one thing a different way."

But he's already making an impact on kids.

"My fiancée, when she was teaching, she had one kid that was struggling with the same thing I am," Misiorowski recalled. "And I really got to sit down with him and, you know, kind of explain to him what I use and what helped me. And, you know, we found something that helped him and he really, like, blew up and was really cool with it all. And, you know, helped him a lot."

Misiorowski plans to do a SHARP Literacy fundraiser on Sept. 10 and help others by spreading the message.

"With the dyslexia side? Like I think it's, you know, a more common thing than people think, and, you know, you're definitely not alone when it comes to it."

As far as The Miz on the mound, Jacob Misiorowski would rather be alone. But what would Jacob Misiorowski do if he had to face himself?

"Walk back to the dugout. I don't remember the last time I hit. It would be a quick at-bat," Misiorowski said.

Which has you wondering if Jacob Misiorowski someday will have the fastest pitch ever recorded in Major League Baseball history.

"Aroldis Chapman hit 105.8 miles per hour. You had 105.5," CBS 58's Lance Allan said.

Does having the fastest recorded pitch in Major League Baseball history interest him?

"Sure. I mean yes, that's the competitor in me. I always wanna push it and reach for a six (106). But it's not something I focus on," Misiorowski said.

And now his star is rising. Quickly.

Giannis isn't here anymore. Is The Miz becoming one of the faces of Milwaukee sports?

"It's cool. I mean it's fun. Obviously, it's been quick. It's only been a year now and it's always cool having a city behind you like that and propel you forward," Misiorowski said.

Pretty amazing stuff for the man nicknamed by his manager after a beloved movie character.

But he's Forrest Gump...with expletives.

"Yeah, a little different," Misiorowski said.

Except Forrest never did this...

"If I get a big strikeout in a big moment, I'm gonna be fired up. I'm trying to motivate the team to put some runs on the board and stuff like that. And if they make an excellent play, I'm gonna be right there with the fans cheering them along," Misiorowski said.

And after what's considered the best pitching performance in Brewers history, how can he get better?

"Obviously not giving up a hit in that game," Misiorowski said with a laugh. "There's always that. There's always stuff to improve on. You know, little things when it comes to delivery. Sequencing. Grips."

Is a perfect game or no-hitter possible?

"I mean it's always possible. You get the right lineup you're facing, they don't hit well against my strengths, those strengths are on, stuff can happen. I wouldn't say it's impossible but unlikely," Misiorowski said.