The Morgantown native stayed home for his college career and he set personal highs for the Mountaineers under former head coach Greg Van Zant. Gyorko was the team’s shortstop from 2008-2010 when West Virginia was still in the Big East Conference. The Mountaineers also still played their games at Hawley Field.
The Shell building beyond the left-centerfield fence at Hawley Field served as Gyorko’s personal launching pad for home run balls. It seemed that each time the Mountaineers needed a clutch it, or a power stroke, he was up at the plate to change the game in his team’s favor.