TEMECULA – The 2024 MLB Draft continued to bring excitement on Day Two as the Oakland A’s selected Great Oak High School’s standout catcher, Dylan Fien, in the seventh round, 196th overall. The announcement came on the second day of the draft, held at Cowtown Coliseum in Fort Worth, Texas, as a part of the All-Star Game festivities hosted by the Rangers.
Fien, a switch-hitting catcher, was committed to UCLA before being drafted, but could still go to college based off of what he and his family decide over the course of the next few days. Fien’s current Slot Value with the A’s would be just over $300K. During his senior year, he hit an impressive .433 with a .711 slugging percentage. His power from the right side of the plate has drawn comparisons to former A’s and current Rangers catcher Jonah Heim. However, Fien is regarded as a more consistent hitter from the left side.
In addition to his offensive and defensive skills, Fien was a First Team All Southwestern League selection this past season. He also played a pivotal role for the San Diego Show travel ball club during his youth years.
Interestingly, Dylan Fien is not the only baseball talent in his family. His brother, Gavin Fien, is a standout shortstop and high school teammate who is committed to play at the University of Texas. This adds another layer of excitement around the Fien family and their contributions to the sport.
The 2024 MLB Draft has been a notable event for the Temecula area. Just one round earlier, Woody Hadeen of Temecula was selected by the Detroit Tigers with the 176th pick. Additionally, Murrieta’s Braylon Doughty was drafted 36th overall by the Cleveland Guardians on the opening night of the draft.
Following his selection, Fien and the Oakland A’s will have until July 30 at 5 p.m. ET to negotiate a signing bonus and agree to a contract. This date aligns with the MLB Trade Deadline, adding an extra layer of urgency and anticipation.
With Fien off the board, who will be next? Day 3 of the draft resumes on Tuesday at 2 PM ET. The 2024 MLB Draft will have been completed prior to this article going to print, so stay tuned for updates online and in next week’s issues as we look to check in with all the local draft picks. Follow along with the MLB Draft Tracker at www.mlb.com.
