In the 2017 MLB Draft, the Milwaukee Brewers selected former Dixie State University right hand pitcher in the 21st round.
Leading his career in wins (20-4) while carrying 193 strikeout, he received second team all PacWest honors after he went 8-2 with 3.58 ERA and 75 strikeouts in just 15 plate appearances. Dylan File played 3 years for DSU and was starting pitcher all three years.
“Achieving records at DSU has given me the ability to realize I can play at this level,” File said. “In all reality, those records don’t mean anything here. Nobody cares about records in college. It’s all about performing at this level and getting better prepared for the next level.’’
File is only the fifth player to be drafted since DSU became Division II and DSU’s 46th player to be selected since 1976.
File was surrounded by his family when his name was called in the draft. His parents are his biggest support and have always had his back and supported his dreams since day one. He wouldn’t be where he is without them, he said.
“That was the most emotional day of my life,” File said. “I didn’t get drafted in the round I wanted to leading up to it. I was concerned I wasn’t going to get drafted. But once my name was called, my family was there with me yelling and cheering; it instantly became one of the best moments of my life.”
File is currently playing at the Advanced Rookie level with the Helena Brewers working on his pitching while staying in shape and getting stronger. He is trying to get to the next level and play with the Milwaukee Brewers.
“Ever since I started playing baseball, I have always wanted to play professionally,” File said. “I’ve had backup plans, but this has been my dream since day one.”
File started playing ball when he was just 5 years old and is currently in his 16th year playing baseball. Having various coaches teach him throughout his life the most influential was Marc Nielson. His favorite player to watch as a child was Randy David Johnson.
Being in a larger audience, File likes when he goes places and people come up to him and talk to him about baseball. He said he always wanted to be the guy who was cool to fans.
“It’s cool when a little kid comes to talk to me and their faces lights up when I have a conversation with them,” File said.
Having teammates both at the collegiate level and in the Rookie Advanced has helped him stay at his best. They continue to push him to do better and keep him on the right track.
“Dylan was an example for everyone…he sure is paving the way for other athletes,” said Jake Davison, a senior business administration major from Taylorsville. “The way he carries himself on the field and the way he was able to balance the tough schedule was a success.”
Even though File hopes to make it to the Milwaukee Brewers major league team, he understands baseball is a business as well as a sport.
“I’d love to be the guy who makes it to the big leagues with the team that drafts them and stays there for his whole career,” File said. “I’d love to make a big impact in the Milwaukee Brewers organization. But at the end of the day, I know this is business, so I know that’s not really in my control.”
The Helena Brewers season is not going the way File had hoped, but he said he is enjoying his teammates.
“Dylan is somebody with a competitive mindset; he gives everything he has on the field,” said DSU Alumnus Trey Kamachi. “He holds himself and the team to higher expectations.”