Houston Astros take Ohio State baseball's Zach Dezenzo in 2022 MLB draft
After four seasons with Ohio State baseball, Zach Dezenzo is heading to Houston.
The Buckeyes shortstop was selected in the 12th round with the No. 373 overall pick by the Houston Astros in the 2022 MLB draft Tuesday.
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Dezenzo was the first Ohio State position player selected in the draft since Dillon Dingler was selected with the No. 38 overall pick in the second round of the 2020 draft by the Detroit Tigers.
Dezenzo had a career year for the Buckeyes in 2022, hitting .319 with 19 home runs and 56 RBI, posting a 1.114 OPS and earning second-team All-Big Ten honors. He also added a career high 66 hits, 54 runs scored and 18 doubles, while cutting his strikeout percentage to 20.6%.
Let's go Z!!! #GoBucks pic.twitter.com/iB32It7bIY
— Ohio State Baseball (@OhioStateBASE) July 19, 2022
The Ohio State infielder was a freshman All-American and named to the Big Ten all-freshman team after the 2019 season in which he hit .250 with 10 home runs and 37 RBI.
In four years with the Buckeyes, Dezenzo hit .281 with 38 home runs and 131 RBI in 165 career games.
Dezenzo is the second Ohio State player to be selected in the 2022 MLB draft, joining right-handed pitcher TJ Brock, who was selected by the Toronto Blue Jays with the No. 188 pick in the sixth round Monday.
The Ohio State baseball program now has 112 draft picks in school history, 38 of which have made it to the big leagues including, most recently, left-handed pitcher Tanner Tully for the Cleveland Guardians.
Dezenzo is the 29th draft pick under former Ohio State baseball head coach Greg Beals, who was fired May 22 after 11 seasons with the Buckeyes.
Three Ohio State pitchers were selected in the 2021 MLB draft: Seth Lonsway in the sixth round by the San Francisco Giants, Garrett Burhenn in the ninth round by the Detroit Tigers and Jack Neely in the 11th round by the New York Yankees.
Dezenzo is the first Ohio State player to be drafted by the Astros since outfielder Ronnie Dawson was selected with the No. 61 overall pick in the second round of the 2016 draft.
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Zach Dezenzo picked by Houston Astros in 2022 MLB draft
