Homewood-Flossmoor senior-to-be Dillon Head has played in some major tournaments over his extensive baseball history. Still, the Player Development Pipeline League he had the chance to play in last week was special.
“It was a great experience, getting to compete against potential first rounders (in the MLB draft) and competing to possibly be on the USA team. It was just a great experience, very humbling getting to play against all the top guys,” Head said. “I was seeing 95 (mile-per-hour pitches) on a consistent basis. It was a great developing experience.”
MLB/USA Baseball Pipeline League last week in North Carolina. (Provided photo)
The PDP League is a cooperation between Major League Baseball and USA Baseball. Only 100 players aged 18 and younger were invited to play between June 29 and July 6 at the National Training Complex in Cary, North Carolina. It serves as the primary identification event for the 18U national team, for which Head is now in consideration.
Head said he knew a lot of the other players from past tournaments. He’s played in other MLB and USA Baseball events like the Hank Aaron Invitational, the Breakthrough Series and DREAM series. Head’s also played in major club and high school events.
He said the only major difference was trying to hit against potential future professional pitchers in every at bat. Head managed only one hit over five games. He said the caliber of defense on display took away a few line drives that he struck well.
Head, himself, made a sliding catch of a 109-mile-per-hour line drive that got some traction on baseball social media channels.
“This was probably one of the biggest (tournaments I’ve played), just as far as the competition and the amount of scouts that were there and what was on the line,” Head said. “You have a chance to play for that 18U national team.”
Many of the players in the PDP League, including Head, will play in the MLB-USA Baseball High School All-American Game at Dodger Stadium during All-Star Week. It’s one of several high-level events he’s got left this summer, including the Hank Aaron Invitational again, the Perfect Game National Showcase in Florida later this month and the Area Code games in August in San Diego.
Beyond that, Head’s future is even brighter. He recently backed out of his commitment to the University of Michigan. On July 10, he committed to Clemson.
“It’s good to get back in the (recruiting process). I’m just taking it all in,” he said. “I’m just trying to take my time and focus on playing ball right now.”