RHP Micah Dallas picked up by the Oakland Athletics in the eighth round
Don’t forget the Pringle’s belt.
Right-handed pitcher Micah Dallas is on his way to The Show as the eighth round, 244th overall pick by the Oakland Athletics in the 2022 Major League Baseball Draft. The selection makes him the first Aggie taken in this year’s MLB Draft.
Dallas, a fourth-year transfer from Texas Tech, leaves A&M after one season of serving as the Saturday starter. He recorded a team-best 7-3 record through 81.2 innings and started in 16 of his 18 appearances. His 86 strikeouts were good enough for second on the pitching staff — one away from tying Joseph Menefee’s leading mark — along with a 1.49 WHIP and 5.18 ERA.
Though his numbers might suggest otherwise, Dallas endured one of the most challenging dry spells of this past season. The Aubrey native only lasted four innings or less in his last four starts of regular season play and yielded a 14.59 ERA through that period.
Yet, his perseverance never wavered and paid off in the postseason.
Jim Schlossnagle tabbed Dallas the starting pitcher in A&M’s opening game of the SEC Tournament against Florida, where he whiffed seven batters and conceded only one hit through a brilliant five-inning effort. Then, vs. Oral Roberts in the College Station Regional and Texas in the Men’s College World Series, he only allowed one earned run in each of those five-inning outings.
Dallas was named SEC Co-Pitcher of the Week in late February after punching out a career-high 10 batters in eight innings of work against Penn. During his freshman season at Texas Tech, he was named to the 2019 Lubbock Regional All-Tournament Team in addition to Freshman All-America by D1Baseball.com and Big 12 All-Freshman. He also earned All-America Second Team recognition from Collegiate Baseball in the shortened COVID-19 season for striking out 23 and only allowing one earned run through 15.2 innings in five appearances.
But arguably more prominent than his impact on the field is the one he left in the dugout.
The originator of A&M’s Pringle's tradition, Dallas emerged as the face of the team’s unique culture. Seen on numerous occasions swaddling an oversized Pringles can or donning two cans under his belt in a similar fashion to an outlaw, the unlikely craze became a rallying point that powered the team and fans alike.
Ryan Brauninger’s scout of Micah Dallas
“Strong, sturdy built right-hander that has excelled in multiple roles throughout his career. Has enormous confidence in his slider which he throws in any count and should play at any level when commanded. Showed real mental toughness in the last month of the season after having a prolonged rough spell. Ultra-competitive kid that pitches with emotion. Fastball command has been an issue along with a tendency to overthrow the slider which makes it less active.”
