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) – 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.
“It was kind of like a dream come true,” Questad said. “Because 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.”
Questad played in the Perfect Game All-American Game as well as the Area Code Games 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.
“After I had those successful outings, I started hearing these things,” Questad said. “It kind of sounds fake at first just because a kid from a town of 5,000 people doesn’t really expect that it can happen to them until it really does.”
The insertion of Questad’s 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.
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’s made it a point to show what baseball players from Wisconsin and the north can do.
“I definitely take it personally because everyone always thinks of Florida, Texas, California and Georgia as these baseball states,” Questad said. “I just try to prove everyday that these northern states can have guys just as good as these southern states that play year round.”
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.
He plays like he has something to prove and that isn’t just because he’s 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.
“It 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,” Questad said. “They put a little bit more effort whenever I’m pitching.”
Questad knows how to handle the pressure. He has family, coaches and players he can reach out to for advice. Recently, he’s gotten the chance to talk to guys like Kelenic who have been in the national spotlight and are from Wisconsin. It’s something he appreciates and hopes he can do for future players.
That’s 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’s 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.
“It feels a lot different just because there’s new kids that are kind of still new to the sport so I’m just trying to be as welcoming and helpful as I can,” Questad said about his approach to being a senior leader for Waterford baseball.
He’ll get the chance to build the Wolverines up for the future before he leaves for Arkansas. It’s one last chance for Questad to play with his friends and try to accomplish his dream of winning state.
“I’m really excited just because I think that we should have a good squad this year,” Questad said. “I think we have a shot to go to state this year, which I’m really excited about because that has been my dream.”
Once the season is over, it’s 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.
