Dante Nori was raised in a baseball-centric family, surrounded by his grandfather, Fred, and father, Micah, both of whom played and coached baseball.
Under their watchful guidance, Nori’s passion for baseball blossomed, propelling him to prominence at Northville (Mich.) High School. With a blend of inherited wisdom and natural talent, Nori has emerged as a standout prospect for July’s MLB draft, drawing attention from scouts who view him as an early-round pick. Additionally, Nori is a Mississippi State University commit.
“I have two great options in front of me,” Nori said. “I can either go to one of the best baseball schools in the country or chase my dream of playing professional baseball. Where I am right now takes all the pressure off of you. One way or another, you’re playing baseball at the next level.”
Nori is no stranger to the spotlight, as he has been immersed in the world of athletics from a young age due to his family’s coaching backgrounds.
His grandfather enjoyed a career as a player, with stints at Indiana University and in professional baseball, and as a high school coach in Ohio and college coach at Miami (OH), Indiana and Arizona State.
Meanwhile, his father, a former college baseball player at Indiana, coached baseball at Miami (OH) before transitioning to basketball coaching. His father currently serves as an assistant coach for the Minnesota Timberwolves.
“Learning the game and then just having it in the family has really helped me,” Nori said. “Being around those types of athletes, with my dad in the NBA, motivates you as well.”
Nori is a 5-foot-10, 190-pound left-handed hitting outfielder known for his offensive skill set and above-average speed. At the plate, Nori uses a short and compact swing to drive the baseball. He’s more of a contact-oriented hitter with a mature approach and a strong understanding of the strike zone.
He’s one of the quickest players in the prep class, consistently producing extremely quick 60-yard dash times. He ran a 6.15-second 60-yard dash at last year’s Perfect Game National. The speed allows him to create havoc on the bases.
“Speed gives you a lot of leeway, so you don’t have to be perfect when stealing bases,” Nori said. The technique for getting the timing down is important, too. Speed definitely gives you room for error.”
Nori spent the offseason working on his swing, hoping to hit for more in-game power.
He also dedicated time to refining his defensive skills. His speed allows him to cover a ton of ground in center field. He takes quality routes to the ball and shows respectable arm strength.
“I’m not satisfied with where my arm is at right now,” Nori said. “I’d say it’s average. I’m just trying to work that up.”
In addition to being a promising draft prospect, Nori verbally committed to Mississippi State University as a sophomore in high school in August 2021.
Multiple factors went into Nori’s decision. His family has a connection with coach Chris Lemonis. Nori also liked the idea of playing in front of a passionate fanbase in the Southeastern Conference, the premier college baseball conference, and for a program with a track record of developing talent for pro ball.
“I just fell in love with the coaching staff,” Nori said. “I trust them. They know what they are doing and are recently coming off of a national championship. It’s also the best atmosphere in college baseball.”
Read more in-depth stories on top 2024 MLB draft prospects at Baseball Prospect Journal.
Dan Zielinski III has covered the MLB draft for nine years. He has interviewed 518 of the top draft prospects in that period, including four No. 1 overall picks. Multiple publications, including Baseball America, USA Today, MLB.com, The Arizona Republic and The Dallas Morning News, have quoted his work, while he has appeared on radio stations as a “MLB draft expert.” Follow him on Twitter @DanZielinski3.
