Cherryville baseball alumnus selected on final day of 2024 MLB Draft

Cherryville baseball product Dalton Pence could soon take his first steps toward an MLB career.

The former Ironmen standout and University of North Carolina pitcher was selected Tuesday by the Texas Rangers with pick No. 345 in the 11th round of the 2024 MLB Draft. He is the first Cherryville product selected in the MLB Draft since 2000, when Ralph Roberts was picked in the 32nd round by the Arizona Diamondbacks.

Pence is one of six UNC players selected in this year’s draft.

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The local native played a big role in the Tar Heels advancing to the Men’s College World Series last month, the left-handed pitcher earning a 5-1 record with eight saves and a 2.45 ERA. He struck out 74 batters in 58 ⅔ innings during the 2024 college baseball season.

For his work, Pence was recognized as a second team All-American by Baseball America, the College Baseball Foundation, D1 Baseball and Perfect Game. He also received third-team all-ACC honors.

He pitched 48 ⅔ innings the 2023 season, finishing with a 4-3 record, 3.33 ERA and 50 strikeouts.

Prior to his time in Chapel Hill, Pence starred at Cherryville High, where he finished with a 9-3 career pitching record, along with a 2.83 ERA and 41 walks. He allowed only three home runs in four years at the varsity level.

During his senior season in 2021, Pence went 4-0 with a 1.50 ERA. He allowed five runs in 23 ⅓ innings pitched, with opposing batters hitting .139 against him. The left-handed pitcher struck out 56 of 90 batters faced that season, while missing only nine walks.