Athlete of the Week Dylan Warren a key lefty pitcher for the Trojans

Having a good left-handed pitcher is a luxury a lot of high school baseball teams don't have. Oak Ridge has had several strong left-handed pitchers over the last decade; Kyle Porter, Jordan Mills and Peter Hansen, to name a few. This year's they've got Dylan Warren. Warren, a junior, has already verbally accepted a scholarship to Sacramento State University. The lanky left-hander throws a fastball in the mid-80s, along with a curveball and changeup, and Oak Ridge coach Todd Melton is exciting to have him in the program for two more seasons. "Dylan is pretty talented left-handed pitcher who has continually improved," Melton said. "Last summer he really turned the corner to becoming extremely good. He began throwing more strikes and was in the zone more and that's a big key for him because he's got the stuff. He's going to Sac State with a lot of upside. He reminds us of Robert Gasser, who was at Oak Ridge a few years ago and is now at the University of Houston." Folsom Telegraph: What are your hopes/plans for after graduation? Dylan Warren: Prepare for Sac State and spend time with my family and friends over the summer. FT: Do sports run in your family? DW: Yes, my dad played both football and basketball in college. FT: How long have you been playing baseball and how did you get your start in it? DW: I started playing baseball when I was 9 years old. My dad introduced me to the sport. FT: Have you ever been involved in other sports? DW: Yes, I also played basketball. FT: How does it feel to verbally commit to a scholarship offer from Sacramento State? DW: I feel truly blessed to have been given this opportunity and excited for the challenge to play baseball at Sacramento State. FT: Did you have any other offers from other schools? Why did you choose Sac State? DW: I did not have any other offers. I chose Sacramento State because of the coaching staff, and the opportunity to play with some of my friends from Oak Ridge High School. FT: You have several other teammates who will be playing at Sac State. Did that play into your decision? DW: Yes, this did play into my decision. I have some teammates that I've known and played with since I was in elementary school. Having good chemistry is going to make our team stronger. FT: What did Sac State like about you? What are your strengths as a player? DW: They liked the fact that I'm left-handed, and have good velocity for my age. My strengths are having command of my fastball, and being a team player. FT: Coach Melton said you have great potential as a left-handed pitcher. What pitches do you throw and do you have a best pitch? DW: I throw a fastball, curveball, and change up. My best pitch is probably my changeup. I like throwing this pitch to catch batters off guard. FT: What do you like best about baseball? DW: There are many things I like about the sport, but I truly enjoy being on the mound and the challenge of facing batters to get them out. FT: What have you been doing to stay in shape for your next season? DW: I've been doing strength and conditioning four days a week at the gym, and throwing flat-ground two-three days a week. FT: How many hours do you put in a week lifting and otherwise working out to stay in shape and prepare for the season? DW: I usually get four to five hours a week of lifting and conditioning. FT: What are your thoughts about the upcoming season? Do you think you will have a season and if so, how do you think the team will do this season? DW: I do believe we'll have a baseball season next year. We have a lot of talented players on this team, and with our depth in pitching and hitting and I think our team will do well. FT: How is school going for you in this crazy year? DW: School has been very different this year. It was weird at first to have school all online, and being away from my friends. Going to a hybrid schedule has made it a little more normal. FT: In terms of being on campus, is it a concern of yours being around others or do you feel safe? DW: I don't really have any concerns being on campus. We're following the regulation of distancing and wearing a mask. FT: What is your favorite class/subject in school? DW: I enjoy science. I like learning about all living things, and how our world works. FT: Favorite music? DW: Rap. It motivates me especially when I'm working out. FT: Favorite Food? DW: My favorite food is sushi. FT: Do you have any pets? Tell us about them. DW: I have a dog. He is an Airedale terrier and his name is Bear. He makes us all laugh every day. FT: Do you have any hobbies? What do you like to do in your free time? DW: I enjoy hanging out with my family and friends in my free time. FT: Is there a particular job or profession you'd like to have after college? DW: I haven't really thought about that yet. I do want to see how far I can go in baseball.