Dane Anthony Dunning…married the former Rachel Castelli in November 2021…Dane’s mother, Misu is a native of South Korea…his brother Jake was selected by SF in the 33rd round of the 2009 MLB draft…posted a 2.77 ERA in 30 relief appearances for the Giants in 2013-14 and last pitched for Long Island in the independent Atlantic League in 2018…Dane and Jake were teammates at Kannapolis (Low-A) in the CWS system for 2 months in 2017…has partnered in gaming tournaments in February 2021 and 2022, both benefiting National Multiple Sclerosis Society…other MLB players participating in the events have included Lucas Giolito, Derek Holland, Brett Phillips, and Carlos Rodon.
2021
The first rookie ever to be selected Rangers Pitcher of the Year by the DFW chapter of the Baseball Writers Association of America, Dunning finished with a 5-10 record and 4.51 ERA (59 ER/117.2 IP) across 27 games/25 starts…despite having his workload limited by the club, he ranked among staff leaders in SO (2nd, 114), starts (2nd, 25), and innings (4th, 117.2), and led the rotation with an 8.7 SO/9 rate…finished among A.L. rookie leaders in starts (T4th, 25), innings (8th, 117.2), and SO (9th, 114)…ranked among overall A.L. leaders (min. 100 IP) in ground ball pct. (5th, 53.9) and HR/9 (13th, 0.99)…had two stints on Injured List: 8/3-12 (right ankle impingement) and 8/25-9/9 (COVID-19 Related).
DAY-BY DAY: Produced a 0.60 ERA (1 R-ER/15.0 IP) over his 1st 3 starts for Texas from 4/6-17, just the 2nd pitcher to start his Rangers career with three straight starts of 4.0+ IP and one-or-zero runs allowed (also Chi Chi Gonzalez in 2015)…earned win in TEX debut on 4/6 vs. TOR (5.0 IP, 1 R-ER) and posted career-best 16.0-inning scoreless streak from 4/6-23, T2nd-longest run by a Texas pitcher in 2021 (19.0-Kyle Gibson, 16.0-Dunning/ Jordan Lyles)…in next seven starts from 4/23-5/26, had a 6.68 ERA (24 ER/32.1 IP) to raise season mark to 4.75, including season-high 7 R-ER allowed over 4.0 IP on 5/26 at LAA…made 11 starts from 6/1-8/13 spanning IL stint (3.44 ERA, 20 ER/52.1 IP) to drop to 4.06…beginning with start 8/20 at BOS, had 7.00 ERA (14 ER/18.0 IP) in final 6 G/4 GS to the end the year at 4.51, span in which he missed 20 days of action for COVID-19 Related IL.
STRIKEOUTS: His 114 SO were 7th-highest single-season total for a Texas rookie, most since Yu Darvish set the club rookie record in 2012 (221 SO)…his 2.64 SO/BB ratio (114 SO/43 BB) was 3rd-best mark ever by a Texas rookie pitcher (min. 100 IP), bested only by current Rangers GM Chris Young in 2005 (3.04) and Adrian Sampson in 2019 (2.81)…recorded career-high 10 SO on 5/9 vs. SEA, matching most by a Texas pitcher in 2020-21 (also Lance Lynn on 9/13/20 vs. OAK; Kyle Gibson on 6/26/21 vs. KC)…was first 10+ SO game by a TEX rookie since Sampson on 6/2/19 vs. KC (11 SO), as Dunning (26.140) became youngest Ranger to reach double digits since Derek Holland on 9/7/12 at TB (25.334, 11 SO). BY
THE NUMBERS: Logged a team-high 5 scoreless starts and twice went winless in a start of 6.0 scoreless innings (4/17 vs. BAL, 5/20 vs. NYY), to match the longest scoreless outing of his career…opp. batted .275/.345/.427/.772…Rangers went 9-16 in his 25 starts…fared better at home (5-3, 3.09 ERA in 14 G/13 GS) vs. on the road (0-7, 6.39 ERA in 13 G/12 GS)… had the 2nd-lowest home ERA by a Texas rookie (min. 10 GS in Arlington) behind Jim Bibby in 1973 (2.46)…became the first pitcher in Texas history and the only MLB pitcher in 2021 to make 10+ road starts and not record a win…his 74.1 pitches per start were 4th-fewest in A.L. (min. 20 GS).
NOTES: Was listed as the Rangers’ 4th-best prospect by Baseball America entering 2021…also listed as the 60th-best prospect on Baseball Prospectus’ Top 101 MLB prospects entering 2021.
2020
Was on CWS’ 40-man roster for 1st time in spring training before option to minors on 3/6…began season at White Sox’ Alternate Training Site…averaged 9.3 strikeouts per 9.0 innings and held opponents to a slash line of .197/.282/.315/.597 over two stints in the Majors: 8/19 and 8/30-end of season…was 5th on the CWS staff in starts (7)…held RHB to .152 average with LHB batters at .246…White Sox went 6-1 in his seven starts.
SUMMARY: Was recalled on 8/19 to make MLB debut in spot start that night vs. DET…recorded 1st strikeout by fanning Niko Goodrum in 1st inning…took a 1-0 lead into the 5th inning before leaving following Jeimer Candelario’s 3-run HR…had no decision in CWS’ 5-3 victory (4.1 IP, 5 H, 3 R-ER, 1 BB, 7 SO)… joined with DET’s Casey Mize (also 7 SO) to become the 1st pair of MLB starters in the same game to record 7+ strikeouts in their big league debuts…was optioned to Alternate Training Site after that game. Was recalled on 8/30 and went 2-0, 3.64 (12 ER/29.2 IP) in six starts the rest of the regular season…his 1st two wins came in consecutive starts, 9/9 at PIT (6.0 IP, 3 H, 0 R) and 9/15 vs. MIN (7.0 IP, 3 H, 2 R-1 ER)…issued 9 runs/8 ER in 7.0 IP over his final two outings…matched MLB debut with seven strikeouts in next start, 8/30 vs. KC.
WILD CARD START: Started 3rd and deciding game of the A.L. Wild Card Series at OAK on 10/1…was removed after allowing two hits in 0.2 innings before Garrett Crochet fanned Matt Olson to end the 1st…was not the pitcher of record in the White Sox’ 6-4 season-ending loss…became just the 4th rookie to ever start a postseason game for CWS, joining Dickey Kerr in Games 3 and 6 of the 1919 WS vs. CIN and Jason Bere in Game 4 of the 1993 ALCS vs. TOR…was the shortest outing ever for a White Sox pitcher in a postseason start.
2019
Missed 2019 after undergoing Tommy John surgery in March ... Preseason Baseball America Ranking: No. 11 prospect in the White Sox system ... Preseason MLB.com Ranking: No. 6 prospect in the White Sox system; No. 59 overall in baseball.
2018
Went a combined 6-3 with a 2.71 ERA (26 ER/86.1 IP), 100 strikeouts and a .235 (77-for-328) opponents average over 15 starts between Class A Winston-Salem and Class AA Birmingham ... Began the season with Winston-Salem, making four starts before being promoted to Birmingham on 4/26 ... Threw 8.0 scoreless IP on 6/14 vs. Chattanooga ... Preseason Baseball America Rankings: No. 5 prospect and Best Control in the White Sox system; No. 82 overall in baseball ... Preseason MLB.com Rankings: No. 6 prospect in the White Sox system; No. 92 overall in baseball.
2017
Combined to go 8-8 with a 2.94 ERA (47 ER/144.0 IP), 168 strikeouts, two shutouts, two complete games, a 1.15 WHIP and 10.5 strikeouts-per-9.0 IP mark over 26 starts between Class A Kannapolis and Class A Winston-Salem...His 168 strikeouts tied for 11th-most in the minor leagues … ranked among the Sox system leaders in complete games (T1st), strikeouts (3rd), ERA (4th), IP (4th), and wins (T6th)...Opened the season with Kannapolis and made four starts, allowing just one earned run with 33 strikeouts over 26.0 IP...Was named the White Sox Minor League Pitcher of the Month for April … ended the month with a streak of 25.0 consecutive IP without allowing an earned run...Struck out 13 batters and allowed just one unearned run over 8.0 IP in a no decision on 4/13 at Hickory...Was promoted to Winston-Salem on 4/28 for the rest of 2017...Allowed three runs or less in 15 of his 22 outings with the Dash … recorded a 1.61 ERA (11 ER/61.1 IP) with 79 strikeouts and two shutouts over 11 road starts... Worked 5.0 scoreless IP in his Dash debut on 5/2 at Lynchburg … struck out 11 in just 5.0 IP on 6/6 at Carolina...Registered a complete-game victory on 6/17 at Buies Creek, allowing just three hits over 7.0 scoreless IP … struck out 11 on 7/31 vs. Salem and 10 on 8/29 at Carolina...Was victorious in his final start on 9/3 at Salem, allowing one hit with nine strikeouts over 7.0 scoreless IP...Following the season, was ranked by Baseball America as the No. 10 Prospect in the CL...Entered the season rated by MLB.com as the No. 10 Prospect in the White Sox organization and by Baseball America as the No. 11 Prospect.
