Monday was a big day for Chad “Cheese” Dallas in his baseball career. The University of Tennessee pitcher was drafted by the Toronto Blue Jays in the fourth round of the Major League Baseball first-year player draft.
The right-handed pitcher who graduated from West Orange-Stark in 2018, was taken with the No. 121 overall selection.
Dallas, who began his college career at Panola JC in Carthage before moving on to Tennessee, helped the Vols (50-18) to their first College World Series appearance since 2005 after winning the SEC’s Eastern Division title.
The Friday night starter went 11-2 this season with a career high 12 strikeouts against LSU in the Super Regional. He was also the first UT pitcher to win at least 10 games since 2005. Dallas will be in Fort Myers, Florida by the end of the week to meet with the Blue Jays and begin workouts.
Also, fans of Cheese became familiar with the rest of the Tennessee team this season. Dallas was one of five Vols taken in the first ten rounds. Also selected was SS Liam Spence by the Cubs in the fifth round followed by 2B Max Ferguson by the Padres. In the seventh round catcher Connor Pavolony was taken by the Orioles and 3B Jake Rucker was chosen by the Twins.
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