Shortly after winning a 5A state championship with Grapevine in early June, Dasan Hill visited Phoenix to participate in the 2024 MLB draft combine.
The left-handed pitcher committed to Dallas Baptist University is the 50th-ranked player in the MLB draft prospect rankings and could hear his name called in just a few weeks.
“It’s always been my dream,” Hill said. “When I got into the 90s on my fastball, I think that was kind of when I was like ‘OK, maybe if I keep working here, this could be a possibility.’ I just kept working, and now it’s something knocking at the door.”
As a freshman at Grapevine, Hill was 5-7 and 100 pounds. His biggest challenge was figuring out how to strike out batters with a 75 mph fastball. Hill learned how to be crafty.
Then the growth spurt hit.
Hill said he entered the spring of his junior year at 6-1 and finished the season about an inch taller. The pitcher started his senior season at 6-3. Now, he’s about 6-5.
Everything happened rather quickly, including the fastballs in the 90s.
Grapevine coach Jimmy Webster said the turning point came during Hill’s second pitch of the inning in a January intrasquad scrimmage.
“The kid using the radar gun turned to me and said ‘Do you want me to write this down?’ It was a 98. I said ‘No, don’t write that down, something’s wrong.’ And all [Hill] did was go 96, 97, 97, 97, 96, 96. And I said, ‘Yeah, let’s go back and write down that eight,’” Webster said. “His life changed when he did that.”
That fastball attracted more eyes to Hill. It also helped him demolish the Grapevine record for strikeouts that had stood for more than 25 years. He struck out 155 batters in 77.2 innings pitched, finishing his senior year with a 10-0 record, 0.99 ERA and .785 WHIP. Dubbed “Dr. K,” Hill led the nation’s 5A and 6A schools in strikeouts, according to MaxPreps.
Along with his physical prowess, Hill’s composure has helped him thrive.
In the 5A state semifinal game, Leander Rouse — tied 0-0 — had loaded the bases in the top of the sixth inning after an Andrew Sanchez single. Rouse had two outs remaining.
Hill coolly struck out the next two batters to keep the score tied entering the bottom of the sixth. Grapevine eventually won 2-1 in a wild finish. The first-team all-state selection and District 7-5A Pitcher of the Year threw several balls upward of 90 mph in that contest, giving up two hits and striking out 10.
“That’s my thing. I really stay even-keeled, and I don’t really show a lot of emotions on the mound. I don’t let a lot of things get to me,” Hill said. “If you look at my face after I walk a guy or give up a hit and then you look at my face after I strike a guy out, it’s the same thing. Being in those big moments, those clutch moments, that’s my favorite thing to be in.”
Though just 18 years old, Hill already thinks like a professional. Life is about to change soon for the pitcher who wasn’t on varsity two years ago. He’s not sure how yet, but even in that uncertainty, he considers himself fortunate.
“It’s a win-win. If the draft works out, awesome. If DBU works out, that’s awesome,” Hill said. “Both are really great opportunities for me.”
On X/Twitter: @t_myah
Recent winners
2023: Jacob Gholston, Flower Mound
2022: Griffin Herring, Southlake Carroll
2021: Jordan Lawlar, Jesuit
2020: None due to COVID-19 pandemic
2019: Bobby Witt Jr., Colleyville Heritage
2018: Mason Englert, Forney
Note: There was no all-area team in 2020 after half the season was canceled because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
2024 Baseball awards
— The Dallas Morning News 2024 baseball Player of the Year: Grapevine’s Dasan Hill
— Offensive, Pitcher, Newcomer and Coach of the Year
— All-area first, second, and third teams
Find more high school sports coverage from The Dallas Morning News here.
