Arkansas commit Dylan Questad plays with a chip on his shoulder
Editor’s note: The Minnesota Twins selected Dylan Questad with the No. 150 pick in the fifth round of the 2023 MLB Draft on July 10.
WATERFORD, Wis. (BVM) 鈥� Dylan Questad has made a name for himself over the last year. The Waterford ace has been committed to Arkansas and is considered one of the best players in Wisconsin for the Class of 2023. However, this summer, people took notice of the right-handed pitcher from Waterford, Wisconsin because he was dominating on the national stage.聽
鈥淚t was kind of like a dream come true,鈥� Questad said. 鈥淏ecause guys like Gavin Lux and Jarred Kelenic were just some of the few guys (from Wisconsin) that got to be able to play in some of these events and succeed in them.鈥澛�
Questad played in the as well as the last summer. He was named Area Code Games pitcher of the week after pitching three perfect innings with six strikeouts. It was a great outing for Questad and following his success last summer, his name began to rise both in MLB draft discussions and in the national rankings.聽
鈥淎fter I had those successful outings, I started hearing these things,鈥� Questad said. 鈥淚t kind of sounds fake at first just because a kid from a town of 5,000 people doesn鈥檛 really expect that it can happen to them until it really does.鈥�
The insertion of Questad鈥檚 name in MLB draft talk as well as getting recognition nationally may have come as a bit of a surprise, but his success at that level was never in doubt. Questad knows he can play with the best players in the country so when he does get the opportunity, he plays with a chip on his shoulder.聽
During the Area Code Games, he went up against the No. 1 pitcher in the Class of 2023, Noble Meyer. It was a chance to go head-to-head with the very best and Questad threw three scoreless innings. He鈥檚 made it a point to show what baseball players from Wisconsin and the north can do.聽
鈥淚 definitely take it personally because everyone always thinks of Florida, Texas, California and Georgia as these baseball states,鈥� Questad said. 鈥淚 just try to prove everyday that these northern states can have guys just as good as these southern states that play year round.鈥澛�
The weather might not be as good year round but Questad is still putting in the work and it is paying off. Even last summer, he was not playing his best baseball early on but he got to work, trying to find what was affecting his play. He was able to fix the problems and then went on to have the best summer of his career.聽
He plays like he has something to prove and that isn鈥檛 just because he鈥檚 trying to get people to notice him or show that there are good ball players from up north. Questad is playing to prove to everyone why he has earned the accolades and the attention. He is a highly-ranked pitcher who is committed to play baseball at the University of Arkansas and that is motivation enough.聽
鈥淚t definitely puts more pressure on me than the other kids just because people from other schools and in my conference put a target on my back,鈥� Questad said. 鈥淭hey put a little bit more effort whenever I鈥檓 pitching.鈥澛�
Questad knows how to handle the pressure. He has family, coaches and players he can reach out to for advice. Recently, he鈥檚 gotten the chance to talk to guys like Kelenic who have been in the national spotlight and are from Wisconsin. It鈥檚 something he appreciates and hopes he can do for future players.聽
That鈥檚 one of the benefits of the pressure. Experience gives him a chance to help those that come after him and it has helped Questad take on a different leadership role with his high school team. He鈥檚 not only a senior but also a player who is going to play Division I baseball and could be drafted. They look up to him.
鈥淚t feels a lot different just because there鈥檚 new kids that are kind of still new to the sport so I鈥檓 just trying to be as welcoming and helpful as I can,鈥� Questad said about his approach to being a senior leader for Waterford baseball.聽
He鈥檒l get the chance to build the Wolverines up for the future before he leaves for Arkansas. It鈥檚 one last chance for Questad to play with his friends and try to accomplish his dream of winning state.聽
鈥淚鈥檓 really excited just because I think that we should have a good squad this year,鈥� Questad said. 鈥淚 think we have a shot to go to state this year, which I鈥檓 really excited about because that has been my dream.鈥�
Once the season is over, it鈥檚 back to work, reminding everyone what a kid from a small Wisconsin town with a population of 5,000 people can do when he steps on the mound.聽
