Tri-Cities talent shines in MLB draft. 2 local grads headed to the big leagues

Two Tri-Citians were selected in Major League Baseball’s Draft on Monday.

Kennewick High graduate Danny Dickinson was picked in the 6th round (185th overall) by the Milwaukee Brewers; while Kamiakin graduate Payton Graham was grabbed one round later in the 7th (210th overall).

Neither player was available for comment on Monday night.

Overall, there were 20 rounds and 615 players selected by MLB’s 30 teams.

For Dickinson, he continues to be on a whirlwind tour the past month.

The 21-year-old second baseman spent this spring playing for Louisiana State University, helping lead the Tigers to the College Baseball World Series title in Omaha.

Dickinson did this despite playing with a broken hamate bone in his wrist during most of the NCAA postseason. LSU manager Jay Johnson didn’t announce anything about Dickinson’s physical status until after the CWS was completed.

The 6-foot, 180-pound Dickinson finished the year with a .315 batting average. He also had an on-base percentage of .458, a slugging percentage of .525, and an OPS (on-base percentage plus slugging percentage) of .984.

Part of his high on-base percentage stems from being hit by a pitch 23 times, as well as drawing 40 walks.

He also had 12 home runs and 49 RBIs.

According to MLB.com, Dickinson’s selection spot comes out to a pick bonus value of $344,000.

As a junior at LSU, the infielder also has the option of returning to play for the Tigers for one more season.

As for Graham, the 21-year-old right-handed pitcher has seen his value rise over the last three seasons at Gonzaga.

His fastball had topped out at 91 mph as a freshman. But this past season, he had touched 97 mph.

Unfortunately for Graham, he opened GU’s season this spring and pitched 5 innings in the opener when he injured his pitching elbow, tearing his UCL.

He had Tommy John surgery in April and has been busy rehabbing it.

The 6-2, 220-pounder still made an impression on MLB teams in this draft, even though it will be awhile before he pitches competitively again.

The MLB scouting report stated, “Teams will have to decide when the right time it is to take (Graham), then help him post-rehab.”

Obviously, the Cardinals felt that time is right now.

According to MLB, Graham’s draft spot has a pick bonus value of $280,000.

▪ Former Tri-City Dust Devils outfielder D’Shawn Knowles is playing with the Sioux City (Iowa) Explorers in the independent American Association this season.

Knowles played for the Dust Devils in parts of two seasons in 2022 and 2023.

Currently with the Explorers, the 24-year-old is batting .204 with 2 homer runs and 17 RBIs.

College baseball

Kamiakin grad Brady Bean completed his junior season at the University of Portland by hitting .310 for the Pilots baseball team.

Bean started all 52 games for the Pilots, who had a 22-30 record. He led the team in hits (66), doubles (12), RBIs (48) and stolen bases (11).

His 42 runs scored was ranked second on the Pilots.

Bean, who played in both the infield and outfield for Portland, was named second-team All-West Coast Conference this season.

College basketball

Kamiakin graduate Kyson Rose finished his college basketball career this spring with the University of Idaho men’s team.

Rose — who also played two seasons at Walla Walla Community College — started in 61 of 62 contests for the Vandals in the last two seasons.

He averaged 9.9 points and 6.7 rebounds in that two-year span.

Idaho finished 14-19 this past season.

▪ Kamiakin grad Javier Sideregts spent the last season at Bismarck State College, a junior college program.

The 6-foot-3 guard averaged 11.3 points, 4.0 rebounds, 4.0 assists and 1.8 steals.

But Sideregts recently announced he’s entering the transfer portal, looking for a new team to play for.

College track and field

Johan Correa, a Kennewick High graduate, completed his collegiate track and field career at the NCAA D2 national championships by placing sixth in the men’s 800 meters final on May 22-24 at CSU Pueblo.

Correa, competing for Central Washington University, finished in 1 minutes and 50.11.

Prep track and field

Titus Jeffrey completed his senior season at Grandview High School by winning the Class 2A boys state shot put championship in Tacoma in late May.

Jeffrey had a mark at 59 feet, and 0.25 inches for the victory.

Meanwhile, Jeffrey finished second in the same meet in the discus with a toss of 180-9, and he finished third in the javelin with a mark of 178-8.

Jeffrey was named Central Washington Athletic Conference Boys Field Athlete of the Year.

He is headed to the University of Montana this fall, where he’ll compete for the Grizzlies men’s track and field team.

▪ Prosser’s Avery Barnhart was the No. 2 javelin thrower at the 2A girls state track and field championships in Tacoma in late May.

The Mustangs senior tossed the javelin 124 feet and 3 inches.