HOUSTON, TX - The Houston Astros announced today the signing of outfielder Ronnie Dawson, who was selected in the second round of the 2016 MLB First Year Player Draft. Terms of the contract were not disclosed. The official announcement was made by Astros Director of Amateur Scouting Mike Elias.
Dawson, 21, hit .331 (85x257) with 25 doubles, 13 home runs, 21 stolen bases and 51 RBI this season at Ohio State University. The left-handed hitting outfielder was a First Team All-Big Ten selection and was named the Big Ten Tournament Most Outstanding Player in 2016, which was his junior year. He also earned third-team All-American honors from Baseball America and Louisville Slugger.
Dawson became the first Buckeye ever to have 40 doubles, 20 home runs and 40 stolen bases in a career. He started and appeared in all 62 games for the Buckeyes in left field this year, and ranked in the top 10 in 11 different Big Ten batting categories, ranking first in total bases (130) and doubles (23), second in home runs (13), third in slugging (.617), runs scored (52) and triples (4), fourth in RBI (47) and stolen bases (20), fifth in walks (37), sixth in hits (80) and 10th in on-base percentage (.423).
Houston has now signed 14 of their 40 selections from the 2016 draft, including seven of their top 10 selections.
-ASTROS-