Where are they now? Checking on Stark County's recent MLB draft picks

[ASFN Admin]

Garrett Wright became the latest Stark County product to be picked in the MLB Draft when the Los Angeles Angels selected him in the eighth round on Sunday, July 12.

Wright, a 2023 Jackson High School graduate, put together two outstanding years at Bowling Green before transferring to Tennessee for the 2026 season. The right-handed-hitting catcher batted leadoff for the Volunteers and led the team in hitting at .348 and OPS at 1.033.

Here is a look at other MLB draftees from the Canton area in recent years, and where they are now.

Gavin Bruni​

Alliance High School, Ohio State

• Draft: 17th round, 500th overall, by Washington Nationals in 2024.
• Currently: The 23-year-old Bruni, a left-handed pitcher, is 2-3 with a 6.69 ERA in 13 appearances this season with High-A Wilmington. Bruni, who has been on the injured list since June 16, has 41 strikeouts in 39 innings.

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Aidan Longwell​

Massillon Washington High School, Kent State

• Draft: 17th round, 502nd overall, by Colorado Rockies in 2023.
• Currently: Longwell, a 24-year-old first baseman, is batting .237 with 10 home runs, 21 doubles and 45 RBIs for Double-A Hartford. The 21 doubles rank third in the Eastern League.

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Zach Dezenzo​

Marlington High School, Ohio State

• Draft: 12th round, 373rd overall, by Houston Astros in 2022.
• Currently: Dezenzo, who's spent parts of the last three seasons in the big leagues, is batting .218 with four doubles and a home run in 26 games with Houston this season. The 26-year-old outfielder has batted .284 with four doubles, three home runs and 12 RBIs in 31 minor league games in 2026.

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Ryan Bergert​

GlenOak High School, West Virginia

• Draft: Sixth round, 190th overall, by San Diego Padres in 2021.
• Currently: Bergert, a 26-year-old right-handed pitcher with the Royals, is out for the season after undergoing Tommy John surgery this spring. He went 2-2 with a 3.66 ERA in 19 big-league appearances (15 starts) last year with the Padres and Royals. Bergert was expected to be a major contributor to Kansas City's pitching staff this season before the UCL injury sidelined him.

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Dillon Dingler​

Jackson High School, Ohio State

• Draft: Second round, 38th overall, by Detroit Tigers in 2020.
• Currently: Dingler recently became the first Stark County native selected to the MLB All-Star Game since Thurman Munson in 1978. In his second full season in the majors, the 27-year-old catcher is batting .262 with 19 doubles, 19 home runs and 60 RBIs while playing elite defense for the Tigers. He was the American League Gold Glove winner at catcher last year.

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Kyle Nicolas​

Jackson High School, Ball State

• Draft: Competitive Balance B round, 61st overall, by Miami Marlins in 2020.
• Currently: The 27-year-old right hander has pitched for the Pirates and Reds in the big leagues over parts of four seasons, going 1-0 with an 8.59 ERA in seven appearances with Cincinnati in 2026. The Reds traded Nicolas on June 4 to the Orioles, who flipped him to the Nationals on July 1. Nicolas, currently on the Nationals' 40-man roster and with Triple-A Rochester, is 1-1 with a 6.85 ERA in 23 minor league appearances this season.

Reach Josh at [email protected]

On X: @jweirREP

This article originally appeared on The Repository: Where are they now? Checking on Stark County's recent MLB draft picks

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