By Rich Fisher, Contributing Editor
Top photo: Dylan Palmer makes a throw from second base to complete a double play for the Greensboro Grasshoppers. Courtesy photo
Dylan Palmer likes where he is in his brief professional baseball career, as he was called up from Class A Bradenton to High A Greensboro June 10.
It’s a far cry from where his emotions were 11 months ago, when Palmer’s steadfast faith in God allowed him to survive a devastating blow.
After being drafted by the Pittsburgh Pirates in the 13th round, the 2022 graduate of Notre Dame High School, Lawrenceville, was hitting .400 after three games for Bradenton. But a broken ankle abruptly ended his season in early August, and Palmer was not back to 100 percent until January.
“It was really tough,” he said. “It was just a long healing process and it’s really hard to stay positive in moments like that. I just trust in God and know that he’s got a plan for me.”
That trust got a good workout while Dylan was recovering.
“Every single day I was leaning on my faith,” said Palmer, who is a parishioner of St. David the King Parish, Princeton Junction, when at home. “It’s tough times, and there’s nothing else you can do but know this is all meant to happen and that God is watching over you; and no matter what he’s gonna be there.
“You lean on him, talk to him and now I’m just so grateful I get to play this game. I thank him every single day for the opportunity to be on that on field. Good or bad days I know that everything is meant to happen. I’m having fun every day, just being grateful for every game.”
The Grasshoppers are grateful to have Palmer, who is hitting .317 with a double, triple, five RBI, five stolen bases and 10 runs scored in 12 games. He is being groomed as a utility player and has mostly been in centerfield and at second base. In the lineup he bats either ninth or leadoff.
“They pretty much want me to get on base for the big hitters,” he said. “Try to get extra 90s, steal bases, just do what I can.”
Palmer did just that in 49 games with Bradenton, where he hit .272 with four doubles, three triples, a home run, 25 walks, 27 stolen bases and 40 runs scored. He was pleasantly surprised to be called up to the Grasshoppers, who are 47-27.
“I didn’t really think it would be this soon,” Palmer said. “I knew eventually I could see myself getting called up and helping this team win. I guess they had some injuries and needed to keep winning and they called a couple of us up and we’ve been winning a lot since then. It’s really exciting.”
In discussing his success at a higher level, Palmer feels it’s still the same game, and he needs to just stick to the process.
The West Windsor resident has received help from some fellow Mercer County products, as Hamilton’s Jonathan “JJ” Johnston is the Pirates minor league hitting development coordinator; while his brother Shawn is involved in player development.
“They work with us, they’re really good,” Palmer said. “I’ve worked with JJ personally and he’s helped me out.”
They are part of a minor league system that was ranked No. 1 in Major League Baseball by Baseball America and No. 3 by MLB Pipeline and ESPN.
“We’ve had one of the best farm systems in all of baseball for the last five years,” Palmer said. “The Pirates treat us very well. We stay at nice hotels, have nice buses to ride in. I don’t know how they do it, but we’re stacked from top to bottom. Infielders, outfielders, catchers, pitchers. We’ve got a lot of good players in this organization.”
Palmer is proving to be one of them based on his progress. As he has gone from Notre Dame to Hofstra to the pros, Dylan has made the mental adjustments.
“In high school I just went up there and swung,” he said. “I didn’t have an approach to hitting, it was just natural that I could do it. As you start to face better pitching you can’t really do that or you’ll be exposed. You gotta go up with a plan every single at-bat. You gotta live or die with that plan, stick to it and trust yourself. That’s the biggest thing.”
Remaining on an even keel is also important when going through the everyday grind of the minor leagues.
“There’s so many games, not everything is gonna go your way every day,” Palmer said. “Just trust the work you put in to get the results and even if you don’t get the results you want, just keep going at it every day. It’s a long season; you can’t get discouraged by one day. Just try to control your emotions every day. Just stay in the middle.”
That approach has helped Palmer get to High A baseball pretty quickly, which he feels is a good place.
“I’m very happy,” Palmer said. “I’m never satisfied, I just want to keep getting better, keep improving and keep helping the team win. Obviously, the goal is to get to the big leagues but you just take things one step at a time, and hopefully you get there.”