Dylan Dodd Bio
Dylan Martin Dodd (born June 6, 1998) is an American professional baseball pitcher for the Atlanta Braves of Major League Baseball (MLB). He made his MLB debut in 2023 and wears jersey number 46 for the Atlanta organization. A left-handed starting pitcher developed through the Braves farm system, Dodd has split time between Triple-A Gwinnett and the major league club as he works to establish himself in a competitive rotation.
Early Life and Background
Dylan Martin Dodd was born on June 6, 1998, in Bismarck, Illinois. He is the son of Mark and Thea Dodd, both of whom have been supportive figures throughout his athletic development. Mark Dodd also coached Dylan’s high school baseball and football teams, giving his son an early grounding in competitive fundamentals and team discipline.
Dodd attended Bismarck Henning High School in his hometown of Bismarck, Illinois, where he played both baseball and football under his father’s coaching. After high school, he continued his baseball career at Kankakee Community College before transferring to Southeast Missouri State University. At Southeast Missouri State, Dodd emerged as one of the top college arms in the Ohio Valley Conference, ultimately earning the conference’s Pitcher of the Year award in 2021.
Path to Baseball
Dodd’s college trajectory was marked by steady improvement, culminating in his recognition as the 2021 Ohio Valley Conference Pitcher of the Year. That performance drew national attention and positioned him as one of the more polished left-handed arms available in the 2021 MLB Draft. The Atlanta Braves selected Dodd in the third round of that draft, making him the first athlete in Bismarck Henning High School history to be selected in the MLB Draft.
Following the draft, Dodd signed with the Atlanta Braves for a $125,000 signing bonus and began his professional development within the organization’s minor league system. His path from small-town high school standout to professional draft pick reflected a combination of family support, college coaching, and consistent on-mound results. Within two years of being drafted, he would reach the major leagues.
Dylan Dodd Career
Early Career (2021-2022)
Dodd spent his first professional season in 2021 split between the Augusta GreenJackets and the Rome Braves, working his way up the Atlanta minor league ladder. The following year, he opened 2022 with Rome before earning a promotion to the Mississippi Braves and finishing the season with the Triple-A Gwinnett Stripers. Across these developmental stops, Dodd refined his craft as a starting pitcher and demonstrated the durability required to handle a full professional workload.
MLB Debut and Rookie Season (2023)
Before the 2023 regular season began, Dodd competed in spring training alongside fellow left-hander Jared Shuster for the fifth spot in the Atlanta Braves’ starting rotation. On March 26, 2023, after Kyle Wright was placed on the injured list, the Braves announced that both Dodd and Shuster had made the Opening Day roster. On April 3, 2023, Dodd was officially selected to the 40-man roster, and the following day he faced the St. Louis Cardinals in his major league debut.
In that debut, Dodd recorded a victory and three strikeouts while yielding one earned run on six hits across five innings. His first major league loss came on April 9, 2023, when he allowed ten hits and seven earned runs in just under five innings. Shortly thereafter, on April 11, 2023, Dodd was optioned back to the Gwinnett Stripers after Wright was reinstated from the injured list. In seven starts for Atlanta during his rookie campaign, Dodd posted a 7.60 ERA with 15 strikeouts across 34 and one-third innings of work.
Development Years at Triple-A (2024-2026)
Dodd was optioned to Triple-A Gwinnett to begin the 2024 season and made only one appearance for Atlanta that year, allowing two runs on four hits with two strikeouts across two innings pitched. He was again optioned to Triple-A Gwinnett to start the 2025 season, but appeared in 28 contests for Atlanta during the regular season, compiling a 1-0 record and a 3.60 ERA with 30 strikeouts over 35 innings. His 2025 campaign showed marked improvement in his overall results, reflecting adjustments made during his Triple-A assignments.
Notable Events and Milestones
Dodd’s most significant early milestone was becoming the first athlete in Bismarck Henning High School history to be selected in the MLB Draft. His major league debut victory against the St. Louis Cardinals on April 4, 2023, marked his arrival on the biggest stage and remains a defining early-career moment. The 2025 season, in which he posted a 3.60 ERA across 28 appearances, signaled a turning point in his development as a major league contributor.
Dylan Dodd Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Dodd comes from a close-knit family with deep ties to athletics. His father, Mark Dodd, coached both his high school baseball and football teams, providing direct guidance during his formative athletic years. His mother, Thea Dodd, has been a consistent presence throughout his development. The family’s involvement in his early sporting life helped shape his competitive foundation and work ethic.
Personal Life
Dodd grew up in Bismarck, Illinois, and has remained connected to that community throughout his professional career. Public details about his personal relationships, marital status, and family life beyond his parents are not widely documented in available sources.
2025 Season Performance
Dodd’s 2025 season represented a significant step forward after his difficult rookie year. Optioned to Triple-A Gwinnett at the start of the campaign, he worked his way back into the Atlanta picture and appeared in 28 contests for the Braves during the regular season. Across those appearances, he compiled a 1-0 record, a 3.60 ERA, and 30 strikeouts over 35 innings of work, demonstrating improved control and effectiveness compared to his 2023 debut season.
The reduced ERA and the volume of appearances in 2025 suggested that Dodd had refined his approach at the major league level. The balance of his season was spent shuttling between Gwinnett and Atlanta, a common path for young pitchers in the Braves’ system as they refine their craft. Looking ahead, Dodd’s development arc positions him as a potential depth option for Atlanta’s rotation in future seasons.