The Milwaukee Brewers had a solid MLB Draft this year and received positive reviews from across the industry and a Grade B+ from Bleacher Report as soon as the dust had settled.
One of the players selected was catcher Marcos Dinges, who joined the organization as a fourth-round pick out of Florida State University in Tallahassee, FL. He was a standout offensive player in college, hitting 15 home runs with 69 RBI in just 64 games, for a .323 batting average and .998 OPS.
Off the field, Dinges is a fighter who recently battled a life-threatening illness. Hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH) is a rare disease that affects the immune system and can lead to multiple organ failure. In February 2023, the mortality rate was 40 percent.
Dinges spent 43 days in two hospitals last year, fighting for his life and finally began to recover. He returned to college and helped FSU to the College World Series. Not too long after, he made his professional debut for the Low-A Carolina Mudcats.
He got his first base hit in his first game as a professional on Tuesday night. He went 1-for-4 and scored one run in his debut.
What a story for @MarcoDinges đź‘Ź
After spending 43 days in hospital last year due to hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH), a rare and life-threatening immune deficiency, Marco was able to score his first professional hit with the Mudcats tonight! pic.twitter.com/7SJOROpHT8
— Carolina Mudcats (@CarolinaMudcats) 20 August 2024
The Brewers organization has had no shortage of positive vibes from top to bottom all year long. In the big leagues, the Crew is on a roll and is a legitimate contender for a World Series ring in a few months. On the farm, several players continue to represent the organization in Industry-wide rankings of potential customers.
It’s nice to see Dinges overcome so much and get that first hit. The Brewers drafted him as a catcher, even though he only played one game behind the plate in college. The assumption is that he could potentially move to first base or a corner outfield spot if his career as a catcher doesn’t take off.
Shared by Adam McCalvy of MLB.comTod Johnson, the Brewers’ vice president of national scouting, said Dinges is tough and hasn’t spent much time as a catcher, but the organization would like to keep his skills there and Dinges himself wants to try it out.
