Will Dion has picked up another honor.
The former McNeese Cowboy pitcher has been selected as the Guardians Baseball Insider Single-A Pitcher of the Year following a stellar season with the Cleveland Guardians Class A Lynchburg Hillcats.
Dion, who was a former first team All-Southland Conference selection and SLC Pitcher of the Year, posted an 8-4 record with a 2.26 ERA in helping lead Lynchburg to the Carolina League Championship Series.
In 23 starts this season, Dion struck out 142 batters in 115.1 innings pitched while walking just 31. He recorded a 1.03 WHIP and opponents hit just .207 against the Sulphur native.
Dion also struck out a high of 10 batters twice in a game – July 3 vs. Salem and again on July 16 against Charleston.
Dion was promoted to Cleveland’s Class High-A affiliate Lake County Captains following the conclusion of the Hillcats’ season where he’s started two games and has a 0.71 ERA in 12.2 innings pitched.
Dion was a ninth-round selection by the Cleveland Guardians in the 2021 MLB Draft.
In his final season with the Cowboys, Dion was instrumental in helping the Cowboys win their second straight conference tournament title and NCAA Regional appearance in 2021.
Dion posted a 9-4 record with a 3.07 ERA that season while striking out a school record 121 batters in 99.2 innings pitched and also tied a single-game school record with 19 strikeouts against Prairie View early in the season.
He earned first team all-conference and all-Louisiana honors as well as being named to ABCA South All-Region First Team, SLC All-Tournament Team and league all-academic honors.