Dylan Hecht Let Go Of His Dream—Then The Giants Called

Hecht caught the attention of the Giants while pitching for Asian Breeze, a multicultural showcase travel team that helps overlooked players get scouted, in a spring training backfield game against the Cubs. The 6-foot-1 righthander pumped 96-97 mph fastballs and, more importantly, threw strikes.

Giants farm director Kyle Haines got a tip from Mark Minicozzi—Hecht’s coach with the Asian Breeze and his former teammate with the Giants—who raved about Hecht’s ability on the mound and his incredible story.

Haines took the tip seriously. Minicozzi had recommended players before, including Spencer Bivens. Haines reviewed video of Hecht and saw potential. He forward it to Giants general manager Zack Minasian and scouting director Hadi Raad.

They all agreed: Hecht was worth a shot.

Twenty-four hours after his outing, Hecht was sitting on the couch in his home in Chandler, Ariz., when he got a call from the Giants.

“He seemed very impressive on the phone, with the character we look for in players we bring into the organization,” Haines said. “He was slated to try out for multiple teams in the coming days, but we believed in Mark’s evaluation, the video and our conversation with him enough to take a chance.”

The Giants offered a minor league contract, and Hecht didn’t hesitate to accept.

“It was surreal,” Hecht said. “I don’t know if words can describe it. Even after finding out how hard I was throwing, I didn’t think anyone was going to sign me because of my age. I thought I’d have to go back to indy ball, and I didn’t want to do that.”

Hecht grew up in a San Francisco suburb called Pleasanton and committed to UC Santa Barbara after turning down overtures from the likes of Cal, UC Davis and Utah. He became the Gauchos’ closer as a freshman in 2013, recording nine saves with a 1.83 ERA and 45 strikeouts. Baseball America ranked him the No. 46 sophomore prospect nationally. Everything was on track.

But things changed when Hecht moved to the rotation as a sophomore. He wasn’t the same, and after just three starts, he returned to the bullpen.

Hecht never mirrored his freshman season dominance. In his junior year in 2015, he pitched just one inning. He transferred to Division II Sonoma State hoping for a reset. But over two years, he logged only 9.2 innings.

Still, Hecht always believed the pitcher he once was could return. But after two difficult seasons with the now-defunct Pittsburg Diamonds of the Pacific Association, he realized it was more than just a performance issue.

A nerve conduction test revealed Hecht needed surgery to relieve the compression of nerves and blood vessels in the thoracic outlet, the space between the collarbone and the first rib.

According to Hecht, there was no nerve connection between his brain and his hand when he released the ball. It meant his struggles were linked to something completely outside his control.

“The lowest point was just going through the thoracic (issue) without knowing necessarily what it was,” Hecht said. “I thought it was a mental thing for about five years. So, just waking up every day and trying to figure out this thing that was actually a physical problem.”

Hecht had thoracic outlet surgery in the winter of 2018, then began the slow, painstaking process of reteaching himself how to throw. Once ready for live action, he returned to multiple recreational leagues, but the results weren’t there.

During the coronavirus pandemic, Hecht got back to work. When games resumed, he returned to pitch 13 games for the Joliet Slammers of the Frontier League in 2021. Still, Hecht wasn’t satisfied with his performance.

And so he decided it was time to surrender the dream.

“I tried to come back, and I just couldn’t,” Hecht said. “At that point, I’d done everything I could. I worked as hard as I could. So I had no real regrets. It just wasn’t in the cards, and I was at peace with it.”

Hecht moved to Arizona to start a new chapter of his life—one that, for the first time in years, didn’t revolve around baseball. He joined a strategic sales advisory firm, Vouris, and worked as Head of Recruiting from 2021 to early 2025.

It was a fresh start, far removed from the bullpen, but he still wasn’t done betting on himself. In November 2023, he founded HireAthletes, a recruiting company designed to help former college athletes navigate the job market after their playing days come to an end.

Hecht found peace in this new life, but he kept playing in adult recreational leagues for fun. His fastball dominated, even if there were no radar guns to confirm his velocity.

Everything changed when one of the rec league coaches asked Hecht if he wanted to play in an exhibition game with a Tucson-based team set to face Team Germany, which was in town training for World Baseball Classic qualifiers. His fastball touched the upper 90s in that outing and impressed everyone in attendance.

Hecht, who is of German descent, hoped to impress enough to make a roster spot with the opposition.

“I thought It would be cool if I made the team and then got a free trip to Japan,” Hecht said. “I did well, and they told me how hard I was throwing, and they were like, ‘Do you still want to play?’

Hecht said yes.

Germany did not qualify for the World Baseball Classic, but the game led to Hecht’s stint with Asian Breeze, which kickstarted his improbable path back to affiliated baseball.

“The exciting part is he finally has closure on those injury issues from college and will get an opportunity that he probably could’ve gotten at a younger age,” Haines said. “He has legit stuff and also, I’m sure what he has gone through means just pitching and facing hitters healthy again brings him joy, even if it’s just a spring training game.”

Hecht is now pitching for the Giants in extended spring training, where he has touched 99 mph while developing a slider and changeup. He’ll almost certainly debut in the Arizona Complex League at some point this season.

Hecht knows his window of opportunity is slimmer than everyone around him. He also knows he’s facing pro ballplayers now, not guys working 9-to-5 jobs.

It will be the biggest challenge of his life.

But every pitch Hecht has ever thrown—through rough times, rehab and return—led him to this moment. He’s beginning a new chapter, where, once again, baseball is his life.

“Instead of working from home, I get to drive to the field every day,” Hecht said. “I get to play the children’s game. I’m so thankful the Giants offered me a contract. They gave me an opportunity when they didn’t have to.”