Drafted in the 4th round (126th overall) by the Toronto Blue Jays in 2010 (signed for $600,000).
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Dyson was a 19th-round pick of the Nationals out of Jesuit High in Tampa in 2006, but he decided to attend South Carolina. He missed his freshman season after having labrum surgery and seemed primed to go out high in the 2009 draft, as he showed power stuff and good competitiveness. His medical history, though, helped push him down draft boards, and he wound up as the Athletics' 10th-round pick and didn't sign. After going 17-4 his first two seasons, he hadn't posted as gaudy a record as a redshirt junior, but his 5-5, 3.92 season actually was more impressive. Dyson has dialed his velocity down into the 92-93 mph range rather than the upper 90s and sitting 93-95. He can still flash that kind of velocity but has sacrificed it for better command and life. He's driving the ball down in the strike zone more and had cut his home runs allowed from 18 in 102 innings to three in 83 innings. Dyson is at his best when he is throwing his curveball for strikes and not just using it as a chase pitch. He also throws a slider in the mid-80s that doesn't have great depth, but he locates it better than the curve. His changeup has made progress as well. Dyson's medical history is what it is, but he has been durable over the last two seasons, making every start and approaching 200 innings total. His improved control should allow him to stay in a rotation in the near-term, though his power stuff could lend itself to a bullpen role eventually.
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Drafted three times, Dyson finally signed with the Blue Jays in 2010. Tommy John surgery delayed his pro debut until two years later. Once healthy, he shot through the system, reaching the big leagues briefly in July 2012. The Marlins claimed him on waivers in January 2013. Dyson's results have yet to match his stuff, which is electric. His sinker has late run and moves so much that catchers can miss it. He excels at adding and subtracting velocity from his heater. Dyson's deceptive, fading changeup is a second plus pitch. He switches between a tight curve and biting slider. While both can be nasty, he doesn't seem to trust either and needs to utilize one or both more frequently. An easy strike-thrower, Dyson lacks the instinct to set up hitters and doesn't read their swings to gauge what's working. He needs to do a better job holding runners and speed up the tempo of his delivery. Though he started 21 games last year, Dyson is a much better fit in the bullpen, where he's capable of being a dynamic set-up man or emergency starter.
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