Ronnie Dawson Taken in Second Round of MLB Draft by Houston Astros – Ohio State Buckeyes
6/10/2016 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
June 10, 2016
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COLUMBUS, Ohio – Ohio State junior outfielder Ronnie Dawson was selected in the second round of the 2016 Major League Baseball First Year Player Draft Thursday night by the Houston Astros. A native of Grove City, Ohio, Dawson becomes the 10th player in school history to be taken in either the first or second round and first since Alex Wimmers was selected in the first round in 2010 by the Minnesota Twins.
The first All-American since 2013 and the 50th in Ohio State history, Dawson led the Buckeyes to their first B1G tournament title in nine years and first NCAA appearance since 2009. The junior outfielder batted .331 with a team-leading 13 home runs, 25 doubles and a career-high 55 runs scored, 51 RBI and 21 stolen bases. Dawson tied the single-season doubles recorder (25) held by former Buckeye great and Hall of Famer Dan Seimetz (1997) in his last at-bat of the 2016 campaign last Sunday. Earlier this season he became the first Buckeye ever to have at least 40 doubles, 20 home runs, and 40 stolen bases in a career. This isn’t his first national recognition, as he was also named a Freshman All-American after his debut season in 2014. Dawson was named a third team Louisville Slugger All-American last week.
Dawson was at his best when the lights shined the brightest, hitting .577 (15-for-26) at the Big Ten Tournament with eight runs scored and six RBI. He broke the tournament records for hits and doubles (six) and his go-ahead home run in the top of the tenth inning against Michigan State helped keep the Buckeyes’ tournament hopes alive. He was named the Big Ten Tournament’s MVP for his extraordinary performance in Omaha. In the NCAA Louisville Regional, Dawson hit .357 (5-for-14) with three runs scored, two doubles, four RBI and stolen base last weekend in Louisville, Ky.
A 2016 First Team All-Big Ten selection, Dawson has a .316 career batting average with 117 runs scored, 214 hits, 50 doubles, seven triples, 24 home runs, 110 RBI, 79 walks and 47 stolen bases in three seasons with the Buckeyes.
The 2016 Draft continues at 1 p.m. ET Friday on MLB.com.
Schedule
Day 2 – Rounds 3-10 – 1 p.m. ET
Day 3 – Rounds 11-40 Noon ET
