Throughout the course of his professional baseball career, Norwalk native Matt Dermody held a variety of odd jobs. The Iowan worked at a carpet store, drove forklifts and was even a bike messenger.
He’s walking away from his most profitable gig yet.
Dermody, who spent parts of five seasons in the big leagues, told The Des Moines Register on Aug. 14 that he’s retiring from baseball. The lefty pitched for the Toronto Blue Jays, Chicago Cubs and Boston Red Sox.
During his half-decade in the majors, Dermody appeared in 31 career games, compiling a 2-1 record with a 5.74 ERA with 23 strikeouts across 31.1 innings of work.
His best season came in 2017 when Dermody became a reliable reliever for the Blue Jays, tallying a 4.43 ERA in 23 games. Dermody spent the 2025 season pitching in the Mexican League.
Dermody came home for the 2022 season and pitched for the Iowa Cubs, the Triple-A affiliate of the Chicago Cubs.
He had the rare distinction of being drafted four times during his amateur career. Dermody was selected by the Pittsburgh Pirates in 2009, Colorado Rockies in 2011, Arizona Diamondbacks in 20212 and Blue Jays in 2013.
He planed to sign with the Diamondbacks after they took him in the 23rd round. But a failed physical led to him returning to Iowa where he got another chance to pitch for the Hawkeyes.
A healthy Dermody showed what he could do in 2013, going 7-2 with a 3.64 ERA before getting another shot this time with the Blue Jays. He made his big-league debut in 2016.
This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Norwalk native Matt Dermody retiring after 5 big-league seasons
Reporting by Tommy Birch, Des Moines Register / Des Moines Register
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Tommy Birch, Des Moines Register | USA TODAY Network
