Dasan Hill has made significant strides on the mound in the past year. The Texas prep left-handed pitcher has grown three inches and added 15 pounds, enhancing his fastball velocity and pitching mechanics.
His development translated into a standout senior season and a notable rise in MLB draft rankings. Scouts now consider Hill a potential second-round pick in this year’s draft, which begins on Sunday.
“I really enjoyed the draft process,” Hill said. “It has been something I have dreamed of since I could remember. I’ve taken it all in and tried to enjoy it as much as possible. It’s been a bit nerve-wracking at times going into meetings. But I have loved it.”
Hill is a 6-foot-5, 177-pound left-handed pitcher who throws a four-seam fastball, two-seamer, slider, curveball and changeup from a three-quarters arm slot with some deception in his delivery.
Hill’s fastball is a quality offering that saw a jump in velocity this spring. After sitting 89-90 mph and touching 93 mph last summer, Hill’s fastball consistently hit 97 mph this spring.
Hill’s slider is an above-average offering and his go-to strikeout pitch. He can manipulate it to make it slower or faster, causing it to move differently depending on the situation. His curveball is a quality pitch, while his changeup shows quality potential.
Scouts rave about Hill’s quality pitch mix and ability to throw strikes with all his pitches. He boasts plenty of potential, with scouts projecting him as a starting pitcher in pro ball.
“I’m confident in myself, and I’m crafty,” Hill said. “My freshman year, I was 5-7 and 100 pounds and not throwing really hard, like 75. I just had a big changeup and curveball. I had to learn how to pitch to guys. So that mindset now with a fastball and slider really helps me. It helps me pick apart guys really good.”
Having only added a premium velocity fastball this year, Hill had the opportunity to refine his off-speed pitches and master the art of pitching without relying solely on overpowering hitters. He believes this developmental path has made him a more well-rounded pitcher.
“For any young kids who maybe don’t have all the velo yet, I didn’t really get my velo or stuff until this year,” Hill said. “Really, just trust the process and grind. Enjoy the work and game. If you enjoy and set your mind to the game, anything is possible.”
For over a year, Hill has worked with his pitching coaches, James Russell and Tanner Scheppers of Top Prospects Academy in Southlake, Texas. Russell and Scheppers pitched in the major leagues and have helped Hill develop a pitching routine and improve his mechanics and confidence on the mound.
As he continues developing, Hill wants to add strength to his frame and refine his pitching mechanics.
“I want to add more weight and get stronger,” Hill said. “Mechanically, I want to keep my head still. That is something I have improved on lately. I just want to master that and keep my head still because if you watch me, I will pull my head off a little bit to my glove side. That is something I can definitely improve on.”
In addition to being a draft prospect, Hill is a Dallas Baptist commit. The Patriots were the first program to offer Hill, and the relationships he developed with the coaching staff factored into his decision, he said.
Dallas Baptist has a winning track record, having made the NCAA Tournament in 12 of the last 13 tournaments, excluding the 2020 pandemic-shortened season.
“The loyalty factor was a big factor, and the coaches are awesome guys,” Hill said. “The fact that they are Christ-based is really important to me because I’m a strong believer. It’s close to home and always felt like home for me. That was also the first college baseball game I ever went to with my dad when I was 6. They’ve always been one of those dream schools for me.”
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.
