Former SEMO Redhawk to make Major League debut against Cardinals

ST. LOUIS, Mo. (KBSI) – A former Southeast Missouri State University starting pitcher is scheduled to make his Major League Baseball debut with the Atlanta Braves when he will start against the St. Louis Cardinals on Tuesday, April 4.

Dylan Dodd, a native of Danville, Illinois. He learned early Sunday that he earned a spot on the Braves’ opening day roster. The Atlanta Braves officially begins its season Mar. 30 at Washington.

Prior to Sunday, Dodd pitched in five spring training games for the Braves in a total of 18 innings over three starts.

He posted a 2.00 ERA and allowed four earned runs, 15 hits and four walks to go along with 20 strikeouts in that span.

Dodd was with Atlanta’s Class A+ Rome, Class A Augusta, Class AA Mississippi and Class AAA Gwinnett teams.

He had a 12-11 career record and held an ERA of 3.87 with 173 strikeouts in 156 innings, according to Southeast Missouri Athletics. Dodd also made 30 starts and walked just 34.

Dodd was selected by Atlanta in the third round of the 2021 MLB Draft. That made him SEMO’s highest draft pick.

Dodd was the 2021 Ohio Valley Conference Pitcher of the Year. Dodd ended his SEMO career with a 9-2 record and 3.17 ERA in 15 starts. He combined on one shutout, struck out 120 and walked 17 in 96.2 innings, according to Southeast Missouri Athletics.

Dodd led led the OVC in strikeouts, innings, wins and games started, and ranked second in ERA.

He rated 14th nationally in strikeout-to-walk ratio (7.06), 20th in strikeouts and 22nd in victories.

Dodd was also Second-Team Collegiate Baseball All-America, First-Team All-OVC and Second-Team All-American Baseball Coaches Association (ABCA)/Rawlings NCAA Division I South All-Region honors during his final season as a Redhawk.

Of SEMO’s last eight draft picks, four were selected by the Atlanta Braves. Those players include Dodd, Trenton Moses (2012), Shae Simmons (2012) and Matt Tellor (2014).