Freshman Spotlight: Michigan’s Dylan Vigue Set To Anchor Wolverines Rotation
Image credit: Michigan RHP Dylan Vigue pitches during a fall ball game. (Photo courtesy of Michigan Photgraphy)
With fall ball finished and under 45 days until Opening Day, each program’s respective lineup and rotation are becoming more clear. Following a very impressive fall, righthander Dylan Vigue has put himself in a position to have as much impact as any freshman in the country.
Prior to arriving at Michigan, Vigue pitched for the Groton School of the Independent School League (ISL). He played three seasons for the Zebras, but his senior year was undoubtedly his best. Vigue worked a 1.46 ERA while striking out 71 across 38.1 innings. His 71 strikeouts led the league, and he also earned a first team All-ISL selection.
Vigue was a bit of a late bloomer as it pertained to garnering draft interest. He was not your typical Area Code and East Coast Pro type player, but his stock gained plenty of momentum throughout his senior year and this past summer. Building off the momentum of his spring season at Groton, Vigue then excelled in the Futures League.
As a recent high school graduate playing with and against college-aged players, Vigue pitched his way to a 2.56 ERA with 34 strikeouts to 12 walks in 31.2 innings. He was named an all-star and the league’s top professional pitching prospect. Vigue was squarely on multiple organizations’ draft boards at this point, but he remained firm in his commitment to the Wolverines.
At 6-foot-3 and 200 pounds, Vigue is a tremendous athlete. There is present strength in his frame, he moves well on the mound, and there is still some room to fill out. He has an athletic operation on the mound with plus arm speed, and pitches from a mid-three-quarter slot with a low release height. His fastball sits in the 92-94 range, but has topped out this fall at 96. It flashes natural heavy sinking life and some run to the arm side. It will sometimes flash upwards of 20 inches of run.
The best pitch in Vigue’s arsenal is his mid-80s slider that flashes sharp two-plane movement with some depth and sweep. It has the potential to be a true plus pitch down the road and figures to be the righthander’s go-to swing-and-miss pitch this spring. Vigue also features a changeup, though it is more of a work-in-progress.
Speaking of this season, Vigue is on track to anchor head coach Tracy Smith’s rotation from the get-go. A true freshman cementing himself as a weekend starter prior to opening day is not unheard of, but it is rare and a testament to Vigue’s ability. After the conclusion of his freshman season, Vigue has signed to pitch for the Yarmouth-Dennis Red Sox of the Cape Cod Baseball League. While he is sure to rack up plenty of innings this spring, Vigue could still make at least a few starts on the Cape.
Looking ahead, Vigue is a draft-eligible sophomore in 2025. He has clear upside in the first five rounds, especially if he puts together two quality seasons in the rotation and establishes himself as a professional starter.
