Nick Dini

Nicholas Carl Dini (born July 27, 1993) is an American professional baseball catcher in the Kansas City Royals organization. He has played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Kansas City Royals.

Nick Dini
Dini with the Kansas City Royals in 2019
Kansas City Royals
Catcher
Born: (1993-07-27) July 27, 1993
Monroe Township, New Jersey
Bats: Right Throws: Right
MLB debut
August 7, 2019, for the Kansas City Royals
MLB statistics
(through 2019 season)
Batting average.196
Home runs2
Runs batted in6
Teams

Early life and amateur career

Dini grew up in Monroe Township, New Jersey and attended Monroe Township High School. At Monroe, Dini became the school's all-time leader in hits (160), runs (128), doubles (41), triples (10), home runs (23) and RBI (117). He played college baseball at Wagner University. As a senior, Dini was named the Northeast Conference Player of the Year and third team All-America by Louisville Slugger after batting .392 with 44 RBI and 26 extra-base hits. Dini also set school records for hits (245), at-bats (793), and games played (215).[1]

Professional career
Dini in 2019 with the Omaha Storm Chasers

Dini was selected by the Kansas City Royals in the 14th round of the 2015 MLB draft.[1] After signing, Dini was assigned to the rookie-league Idaho Falls Chukars and hit .316 with four home runs and 29 RBIs in his first season of professional baseball. In 2016, Dini appeared in only 20 games with four different minor league teams due to injuries, batting .319 with nine RBIs.[2] Dini began the 2017 season with the Class A Lexington Legends and was promoted to the Double-A Northwest Arkansas Naturals hitting a combined .302 batting average with four home runs and 36 RBIs. He was selected by the Royals to play in the Arizona Fall League for the Surprise Saguaros following the end of the season.[3] He started 2018 with Northwest Arkansas and was named a reserve to the Texas League All-Star Game, batting .239 in 80 games before being promoted to the AAA Omaha Storm Chasers for the rest of the season.[4][5] He hit .333 with three home runs and six RBIs in 14 games with Omaha.[2] Dini was non-roster invitee to Royals spring training in 2019, but did not make the team out of camp and was assigned to AAA.[6]

Kansas City Royals

Dini was called up to the Major Leagues on August 7, 2019 after catcher Cam Gallagher sustained an injury.[7] He made his big league debut that same night as a Pinch Hitter for Meibrys Viloria & remained in the game as Catcher. The next day, August 8, 2019, he made his first big league start at catcher against the Detroit Tigers and collecting his first career hit, a single off Matt Hall, while going going 1-3 with a walk and a run scored.[8] On August 19, 2019 Dini hit his major league home run off of Gabriel Ynoa at Camden Yards in a 5-4 win over the Orioles.[9] Dini finished his rookie season with a .196 batting average, two home runs, six RBIs and 11 runs scored in 20 games played. He also threw out four of ten attempted base stealers for a 40% caught-stealing average.[2] Dini was designated for assignment on November 20, 2019.[10]

References
  1. Tufaro, Greg (June 10, 2015). "Royals draft former Monroe star Dini, Rutgers LHP McCoy". Courier News. Retrieved August 8, 2019.
  2. "Nick Dini College, Minor & Fall Leagues Statistics & History". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved August 8, 2019.
  3. "Former Seahawk Catcher Nick Dini Selected To Arizona Fall League; One Of Five Kansas City Royals Chosen". WagnerAthletics.com. September 13, 2017. Retrieved August 8, 2019.
  4. Hadorn, Christopher (June 25, 2018). "TEXAS LEAGUE: All-Star Game starter profiles, rosters". Midland Reporter-Telegram. Retrieved August 8, 2019.
  5. Reiper, Max (March 4, 2019). "What are the catching options with Salvador Perez out?". RoyalsReview.com. SB Nation. Retrieved August 8, 2019.
  6. "Royals invite 19 non-roster players to spring training". Fox Sports Kansas City. January 5, 2018. Retrieved August 9, 2019.
  7. Todd, Jeff (August 8, 2019). "Royals To Select Contract Of Nick Dini". MLBTradeRumors.com.
  8. "Mercer's game-ending homer gives Tigers 10-8 win". FoxSports.com. Associated Press. August 8, 2019.
  9. "Lopez, Dini HRs Carry Royals Past Skidding Orioles 5-4". Baltimore.CBSLocal.com. Associated Press. August 19, 2019. Retrieved August 20, 2019.
  10. "Royals add four players to 40-man roster; Bonifacio, Dini among four DFA'd". Fox Sports Kansas City. November 20, 2019. Retrieved November 20, 2019.


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