Dalton Pence Stats & Scouting Report

IP	24.1
ERA	2.59
WHIP	0.950
BB/9	1.9
SO/9	11.1

Full name Dalton Glenn Pence
Born 08/28/2002 in Gastonia, NC
Profile Ht.: 6'2" / Wt.: 205 / Bats: L / Throws: L
School North Carolina
Drafted in the 11th round (345th overall) by the Texas Rangers in 2024 (signed for $350,000).

View Draft Report

School: North Carolina
Commit/Drafted: Never Drafted
Age at Draft: 21.9

Pence is a 6-foot-2, 215-pound lefthanded reliever with a fastball-dominant pitch mix. He has three legitimate options on the mound including the fastball, a mid-80s changeup and a low-80s slider, but he uses the heater more than 80% of the time. It’s a quality pitch that has averaged 92 mph and been up to 95 with solid riding life and above-average induced vertical break that allow it to play above its velocity. Through his first 21 games and 30.2 innings, he has posted a 1.76 ERA and generated a 35% miss rate with the fastball, though his control is below average and he’s a straight reliever prospect.

Top Rankings

Organization Prospect Rankings

BA Grade/Risk: 45/Average

Adjusted Grade: 35

Track Record: Pence redshirted during his first season at North Carolina, then spent the next two seasons pitching mostly out of the bullpen for the Tar Heels. He was used exclusively as a reliever in his draft year, when the Rangers took him in the 11th round and signed him for $350,000. He was shut down after signing, then spent his debut season as a rotation piece at the Class A levels.

Scouting Report: The Rangers believe Pence has the chops to start. To do so, he’ll need a fuller arsenal. Currently, he works with a four-pitch mix led by a low-90s fastball and backed by a slider, splitter and sparsely used curveball. Despite pedestrian velocity, Pence’s heater could get to plus thanks to more than 20 inches of induced vertical break and an ability to land it in the zone frequently. His slider—which can look like a cutter—is his most effective offspeed pitch and grades as a potential 55 on the 20-80 scouting scale. The splitter trails as a possible average pitch, and his curveball is a clear fourth option. In 2026, curveball growth will be a point of emphasis in order to give him a wider-breaking pitch as a way to introduce a different look into his mix. Pence had no trouble carving against Class A hitters and could get to above-average control.

The Future: Pence should reach Double-A in 2026. There, the savvier hitters in the Texas League will let him know just how much more diversity he’ll need in his pitch mix to be a starter at the highest level.

Scouting Grades Fastball: 60 | Curveball: 40 | Slider: 55 | Split: 50 | Control: 55

Draft Prospects

School: North Carolina Commit/Drafted: Never Drafted
Age At Draft: 21.9
Pence is a 6-foot-2, 215-pound lefthanded reliever with a fastball-dominant pitch mix. He has three legitimate options on the mound including the fastball, a mid-80s changeup and a low-80s slider, but he uses the heater more than 80% of the time. It’s a quality pitch that has averaged 92 mph and been up to 95 with solid riding life and above-average induced vertical break that allow it to play above its velocity. Through his first 21 games and 30.2 innings, he has posted a 1.76 ERA and generated a 35% miss rate with the fastball, though his control is below average and he’s a straight reliever prospect.