Leominster's Dylan Vigue gives Bravehearts a boost while preparing for Michigan and MLB draft

WORCESTER — For high school graduates who plan to continue their studies, summer is often a catch-your-breath time before heading off to college.

But for a dialed-in Dylan Vigue, it’s not about resetting and recharging, but progress and productivity as he transitions athletically from the Groton School to the University of Michigan by pitching for the Worcester Bravehearts in the collegiate Futures League.

“I want to treat this summer as a good time to continue my development before getting to campus in the fall,” the 19-year-old Leominster resident said Friday from Hanover Insurance Park at Fitton Field. “And that way when I’m on campus, hopefully, I can make a big splash and help the team right away.”

So far, so good, so good, so good as Vigue has played a prominent role in helping the surging Bravehearts win seven straight and nine of their past 10 games to improve to 25-9 and take a half-game lead on Vermont entering Tuesday.

After making four impressive relief appearances, the 6-foot-3, 200-pound right-hander, whose fastball sits at 92 to 94 miles per hour and headlines a repertoire that includes a curveball, changeup and developing sinker, was inserted into the rotation when a spot opened.

He’s been lights out in his first two starts while facing players who are two, three and even four years older.

Vigue pitched 5⅔ scoreless innings in which he allowed three hits and two walks while striking out five in a 1-0 win at Vermont on June 25. He came back Saturday to throw six scoreless frames in a 5-1 victory over Brockton, recording seven Ks while allowing one hit and two walks.

“Dylan had been really solid out of the bullpen, so it made a lot of sense to give him that opportunity,” manager Alex Dion said between Vigue’s starts. “He was pretty dominant against a really good Vermont team.

“Super competitive, the stuff, the velocity, the movement on the secondary stuff, the command, he was able to hold all that for the entire start, which was really great to see. And, obviously, that’s why he’s a guy people are following for the draft.”

Although he’s been a pitcher since Little League, Vigue has always seen himself as a shortstop and hitter first. He’ll enter Michigan as a two-way player, regularly takes batting practice and was all in when asked to represent the Bravehearts in a home run derby, which the Futures League uses to decide games tied after 10 innings.

After throwing three no-hit, no-run frames, Vigue, using gloves and a bat borrowed from teammate Greg Gorman — he typically leaves his hitting equipment at home on days he’s scheduled to pitch — cleared the fence five times on 15 swings to lift the elated Bravehearts to a 2-1 win over Nashua on June 20.

“Always happy to step in and swing,” Vigue said before being asked how his teammates responded after his home run barrage. “It was amazing. Nothing short of how a normal walk-off would feel.”

After attending St. John’s for two years, Vigue transferred to the Groton School, where he reclassified, in the fall of 2020. He played three varsity seasons of baseball, captaining the Zebras and averaging two strikeouts an inning as a senior, while continuing to excel academically.

Vigue has taken big strides forward on the mound over the past 12 months, for instance, adding three to four mph to his fastball, which has topped out at 96 this summer. He credits that to becoming more dedicated to his lifting, flexibility, nutrition and recovery programs.

The rapid rise led Vigue to reopen the recruiting process after verbally committing to UMass in September. He settled on Michigan on June 20 and plans to apply to the Ross School of Business this year as applications were closed prior to his commitment.

“Michigan was the school that gave me the best opportunity,” Vigue said. “They have world-class academics, and the Big Ten is some of the best baseball you’re going to get in the country.

“When I first talked to Coach (Tracy) Smith and the rest of his staff, they made it very clear that getting back to Omaha (home of the College World Series) was there main goal, and that’s a community and a team I want to be a part of.”

Major League Baseball will hold its annual draft from July 9 to 11 in Seattle during the All-Star break with 614 picks made over 20 rounds. Vigue has increasingly attracted the attention of pro scouts.

Vigue isn’t listed among the top 250 prospects on mlb.com, but his athleticism, skills, maturity, versatility, high ceiling and, as Dion termed it, “electric stuff,” have undoubtedly landed his name on multiple draft boards.

“I’m thrilled to be considered,” Vigue said. “Every kid dreams of playing in MLB, and it’s still sinking in that this could be a reality. You see the scouts at games and stuff; it’s been an amazing experience, and I’m thrilled with this draft coming up.

“I’m excited to see how it plays out and overall just appreciate all the consideration from the scouts who have been at games. It’s been an amazing process, more than I’ve ever dreamed of.”

—Contact Rich Garven at rgarven@telegram.com. Follow him on Twitter @RichGarvenTG.

This article originally appeared on Telegram & Gazette: Leominster's Vigue shines for Bravehearts while preparing for Michigan