Dylan Lesko

Dylan Lesko
Tampa Bay Rays
Pitcher
Born: (2003-09-07) September 7, 2003 (age 21) Atlanta, Georgia, U.S.
Bats: Right Throws: Right

Dylan Joseph Lesko (born September 7, 2003) is an American baseball pitcher in the Tampa Bay Rays organization.

Amateur career

Lesko attended Buford High School in Buford, Georgia. In 2021, he became the first junior to win the Gatorade Baseball Player of the Year after going 11–0 with a 0.35 earned run average (ERA) with 112 strikeouts in 60 innings.^[1][2] He was also named the Gwinnett Daily Post Baseball Pitcher of the Year.^[3][4] During the Summer of 2021 he combined with other pitchers to throw a no-hitter in the Perfect Game All-American Classic at Petco Park.^[5]

Professional career

San Diego Padres

Lesko was considered the top pitcher available in the 2022 Major League Baseball draft before the season started.^[6] He was committed to Vanderbilt University to play college baseball.^[7] His season ended when he tore the UCL in his pitching elbow, an injury that required Tommy John surgery, which he underwent on April 26 and was expected to sideline him until 2024. Regardless, the San Diego Padres selected Lesko in the first round, with the 15th overall selection, of the draft.^[8] Lesko signed with the Padres for a $3.9 million signing bonus, forgoing his commitment to Vanderbilt.^[9]

Lesko was able to return to action in 2023, splitting the year between the rookie–level Arizona Complex League Padres, Single–A Lake Elsinore Storm, and High–A Fort Wayne TinCaps. In 12 total starts, he accumulated a 1–5 record and 5.45 ERA with 52 strikeouts across 33 innings pitched. ^[10]

Tampa Bay Rays

On July 28, 2024, Lesko, Homer Bush Jr., and J.D. Gonzalez were traded to the Tampa Bay Rays in exchange for Jason Adam.^[11]

References

1. "Vanderbilt baseball commit Dylan Lesko wins Gatorade National Player of the Year award". The Tennessean.
2. "Buford's Dylan Lesko named 2020-21 Gatorade National Baseball Player of the Year". Northgwinnettvoice.com. 7 July 2021.
3. "BASEBALL PITCHER OF THE YEAR: Buford's Dylan Lesko". Gwinnettdailypost.com. 22 June 2021.
4. "Buford's Dylan Lesko named Gatorade Georgia Baseball Player of the Year". Gwinnettdailypost.com. 29 June 2021.
5. "Dylan Lesko, Luke Heyman Star as East Pitches a No-Hitter in Perfect Game All-American Classic". Baseballamerica.com. 23 August 2021.
6. "Top Baseball Draft Prospects". MLB.com.
7. "Buford pitching ace Dylan Lesko commits to Vanderbilt University". Northgwinnettvoice.com. 22 November 2020.
8. "Padres pick prep pitcher Dylan Lesko in first round of MLB Draft". Sandiegouniontribune.com. 18 July 2022.
9. "Callis: Padres agree with first 3 picks". Mlb.com. Retrieved 28 July 2022.
10. "Salas, Lesko form formidable duo on and off field". milb.com. Retrieved August 7, 2024.
11. "Rays get prospect haul after trades of Adam (Padres) and Paredes (Cubs)". MLB.com.

External links

• Career statistics from MLB, or Fangraphs, or Baseball Reference (Minors)