
With their third selection in the 2021 draft, at 121st overall (their fourth-round pick), the Toronto Blue Jays selected Tennessee pitcher Chad Dallas.
Chad “Cheese” Dallas is a glasses-wearing, undersized pitcher who pitched in 2021 as a Junior for the Tennessee Volunteers. Baseball runs in his family as his father played baseball at Panola college and his brother pithes for Lamar University.
Hailing from Texas, Dallas started his college career at his dad’s alma mater, coming out of the bullpen and striking out 71 in 39 innings in 2019 at Panola JC. He became Tennessee’s no. 1 starter by the time 2021 came around and he helped them to the College World Series in 2021.
MLB.com reports that his fastball site 90-94 mph and can hit 98 (more likely in a relief role) while his mid-80s cutter [that Baseball America calls a slider] became “his best weapon, a plus offering that destroys right-handers both in the strike zone and as a chase pitch.” He also throws a low-80s curve that MLB calls “solid at its best.” He is reported to have a changeup as well but he rarely used it in 2021.
At only 5-foot-11, his fastball is fairly straight and hittable if he misses with and he had a 4.27 ERA in 2021 but had 106 strikeouts to just 19 walks. Scouts like his ability to pound the strike zone and dream on his slider that they think should translate well at the pro level.
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