Zach Dezenzo playing in MLB Draft League, eyeing shot to play professional level

Zach Dezenzo's 2022 baseball journey began in Columbus in the winter and continues in Niles this summer.

Dezenzo, a former All-Ohio player at Marlington High and starting shortstop at Ohio State, authored a breakout offensive season during his fourth year of college baseball and is currently playing with the Mahoning Valley Scrappers of the MLB Draft League.

Dezenzo, who was a line-drive, gap hitter for the Dukes but has blossomed into a 6-foot-4, 220-pound power hitter at the college level, is playing his second season with the Scrappers, hoping to get more exposure to major-league scouts and put himself in position to be picked in the three-day draft, which is slated for July 17-19.

"There is good competition in this league," said Dezenzo via telephone conversation last week. "It's not just college guys from Power Five conferences but also guys from smaller [colleges] and it includes players from all over the country."

Keeping his weight on his back foot, and uncoiling with a big leg kick, followed by a vicious swing path, Dezenzo made enough contact for Ohio State in 51 games this season, belting 19 home runs and driving in 56 runs. The right-handed hitter also hit for average, finishing at .319.

More: Zach Dezenzo is All-Big Ten in baseball; Kaycee Ollis, Melissa Holzopfel honored in softball

"I'm bigger and stronger than I was in high school, adding 30 pounds," Dezenzo said. "I think that has helped me become more of a power hitter."

Zach Dezenzo shows power in wooden-bat MLB Draft League for Mahoning Valley Scrappers

In his first 23 games at Mahoning Valley, Dezenzo has continued hitting for power. In a recent 15-8 win over Williamsport, which snapped a nine-game losing streak, he belted a 462-foot home run and added a double and single to fuel the offense.

Whatever the competition, Dezenzo has continued pounding the baseball in 2022, even though the club he swings is different. At Ohio State, he has used an aluminum bat. Mahoning Valley, however, plays in a wooden-bat league.

"It's different swinging wood than metal," Dezenzo said. "It took me a couple of days, but I've been able to make the adjustment."

While he has mostly played shortstop at Ohio State, Dezenzo has also been making an adjustment to playing different positions.

"I've been playing left field and first base," he said. "I've been told by some baseball people it could help [my draft status] by being versatile."

Dezenzo has matured physically during his college baseball career, but he also understands the true meaning of student-athlete, making Academic Big Ten the last three years. After earning his undergraduate degree in sports management, he is now working on a masters degree in kinesiology.

"School has been important to me," Dezenzo said. "I've tried to balance baseball and my studies."

That balance has helped increase his options, which includes returning to Ohio State for an extra season of college baseball created by the COVID 19 virus in 2020. If he comes back to Columbus, he'll be playing for a different head coach. Bill Mosiello, who had been at Texas Christian University as associate head coach, was named to succeed Greg Beals as Ohio State head coach.

"The thing that struck me that he has 32 years of experience and [Ohio State] will be his first head coaching job," Dezenzo said. "He also has been an assistant coach at several [Division I] powers and coached several high-level players, both in college and when he was in the minor leagues."

While there are several available options, including landing a job in baseball following his playing days, Dezenzo is currently laser-focused on one dream.

"At this time, my eyes are only on the Major League Draft," he said.

This article originally appeared on The Alliance Review: Former Marlington baseball standout Zach Dezenzo eyeing MLB Draft