Despite dominating as a two-year varsity player for Kennewick High School (Kennewick, Washington), Daniel Dickinson struggled to garner interest from Division I programs. When he was presented with the opportunity to join Utah Valley as a preferred walk-on after he graduated high school, Dickinson jumped at the opportunity.

At the beginning of his freshman season, Dickinson quickly established himself as the Wolverines’ starting second baseman before taking off as one of the best freshmen in the country. Across 53 games, he hit .372/.441/.592 (146 wRC+) en route to earning All-WAC First Team honors and was named to Collegiate Baseball's Freshmen All-American team.

As a sophomore, Dickinson ascended to another level. The infielder hit .367/.469/.661 (160 wRC+), which earned him an All-WAC First Team selection for the second straight year and Perfect Game Second Team All-American honors.

Following his stellar two years at Utah Valley, Dickinson made his Cape Cod Baseball League debut for the Harwich Mariners in 2024, where he has appeared in nine games thus far. On Tuesday, Dickinson announced that he will play his junior season at LSU. Dickinson is projected to be a top pick in the 2025 MLB Draft following a year in Baton Rouge.

Dickinson spoke to the Cape Cod Baseball League to discuss his time on the Cape, his rise through high school baseball, playing for Utah Valley and his commitment to LSU:

CCBL: Throughout high school, you had a very interesting recruiting process, to say the least. I was wondering if you could take me through that and what that was like for you as a high school player looking to play college baseball.

Daniel Dickinson: I definitely had dreams of playing at a high level. I wasn’t getting the looks that I wanted to, but I just kept working hard, putting my head down and knowing that the dreams that I was having could be a reality if I just worked hard and never gave up.

I committed to a junior college, Spokane Falls, my junior year of high school. I played my junior season, then in the fall of my senior year, I went to a camp in California and got an offer from Ottawa University — which is an NAIA school in Arizona. I did well in that camp and committed there.

After that, I played in my high school state tournament and then got a preferred walk-on spot at Utah Valley after my state tournament, after I graduated high school. And so I took that opportunity, spent two years there and now I’m at LSU.

With Utah Valley, it’s a big difference as a walk-on rather than a scholarship player. What was your mindset going in and how did you emerge as the leader and star player across your two years there?

Just work hard, put your head down and don’t be the little cocky kid that thinks he’s all that. You’re gonna gain more respect from the older kids if you just work hard and help the team win.

Year 1 at Utah Valley was amazing, but Year 2 you took it to another level. What was the main difference between your freshman and sophomore year?

Just understanding how the season went, it’s longer than high school. You just have to prepare more every day. And just experience, too. Knowing the velo difference, playing the game at a higher level after your first year makes it not easier because they know you more, but you just understand the game more.

Now you’re on the Cape, what’s it been like to play against some of the best college players in the nation over the summer?

It’s amazing, it’s a great opportunity. I’m very humbled to get the opportunity to play here. It’s super fun, kind of just trying to enjoy myself and not put too much pressure on myself.

With Harwich, how did that opportunity present itself and what was your reaction to getting to the Cape?

Coach [Steve] Englert, he knew my head coach at Utah Valley, Eddie Smith. I had this invitation from after my freshman year, but I had knee surgery. So basically I just prepared and knew this was gonna happen this summer and it was super exciting.

Now that you’re here, what’s the experience been like and what have been your favorite moments?

Just playing the game that I love every day. Not putting too much pressure on yourself, it’s very relaxed and you can just go out there and play the game that you played when you were a little kid.

With the transfer portal, what was the decision behind that and when did you come to the decision that that was something you were going to explore?

I see LSU all over the television. I mean, women’s basketball, men’s basketball, football, baseball, they’re literally everywhere. I’ve been wanting to go to LSU for a long time, I don’t think it was a very hard decision. I got down there and liked everything about it. I like the staff and I like the position that they’re gonna put me in to go out there and help them win games. So, just really enjoyed the experience and decided that was my spot.

After LSU, you have an opportunity to jump to the next level. What’s your mindset going into a big junior year and how are you going to stay levelheaded to get to the next level?

Don’t change who I am and keep being Daniel Dickinson. Working hard, putting your head down. Going out there, playing the game really hard every single day.

Editor’s note: Some questions and answers have been edited for clarity and brevity.

(Photograph by Aidan Conrad)