The Washington Nationals have agreed to terms with first-round selection (No. 29 overall), right-handed pitcher Dane Dunning, and 12th-round pick (No. 364 overall) left-handed pitcher Hayden Howard. Nationals President of Baseball Operations & General Manager Mike Rizzo and Assistant General Manager & Vice President of Scouting Operations Kris Kline made the joint announcement.
A 6-foot-4, 200-pound junior, Dunning went 6-3 with two saves and a 2.29 ERA (20 ER/78.2 IP) in 33 games (five starts) for the University of Florida in 2016. He struck out 88 batters, walked 12 and surrendered just three homers. Dunning was a key cog for the top-seeded Florida Gators as they advanced to the 2016 College World Series.
The Nationals have signed 30 of their 41 picks from the 2016 First-Year Player Draft, including their first 19 selections.