September 30, 2026
Right-handed pitcher Dax Dathe is looking to build off his introduction to pro ball this off-season.
“The biggest thing this off-season is getting me prepared for 2027,” explained Dathe. “It sounds pretty basic but for me, I haven’t done a full professional season yet. I’ve played a lot of baseball and I know I’ll be ready for it but I’ve never played 142 games in a season. I’ve never done a spring training on top of that, so hammering the strength and conditioning work is important. I’m looking to really stay on top of my nutrition, my sleep, and my recovery. I’m also looking to handle everything as a pro. It’s my first pro off-season, and I plan on approaching it that way. As far as the pitching side of things, just continue to develop clean habits. Make sure I’m developing the right sequencing in my delivery, making clean throws, and that I’m building up for spring training.”
Pitching 12 1/3 innings between Low-A and High-A in 2026; Dathe finished the season with 24 K’s, a 2.92 ERA, and a WHIP of 1.54.
The righty uses a five-pitch mix of: a 4-seam fastball, a sinker, a gyro slider, a sweeper, and a kick-change.
Dathe explains how he uses his two fastballs every outing, “It depends on the hitter, what side of the plate they hit on, what their strength is, and it just depends on what’s working that day,” explained Dathe. “You show up every day at the ballpark and what you got – is what you got. Sometimes it might not be your best but you have to roll with it. Being able to have two fastballs helps with being able to adjust if one isn’t playing well that day. It’s all about adjustments.”
Winning the NWL Championship was a special moment during Dathe’s first year of pro ball.
“It was awesome,” stated Dathe. “I was actually hot to go in and face the next batter. But Jack Eshleman on the mound was absolutely carving, so I kind of had it in the back of my mind that he’s probably going to punch this guy out and we’re about to dogpile. He did and it was an incredible moment. It was my first ever dogpile and to do it with a great group of guys was special.”
Pitching exclusively out of the bullpen so far in pro ball, Dathe will do whatever role is asked of him moving forward.
“I don’t really have a preference on bullpen or starter at this point,” explained Dathe. “I have my pros and cons to both. As for the bullpen, I enjoy the ‘here’s the situation go deal with it’ type of vibe with it. I like pitching in big moments, I like facing good hitters, and I like seeing how my stuff plays against good hitters. It’s baseball. Yeah, I’m a pitcher but I’m a baseball player. They could tell me to go play CF for an inning and I’d say lets go!”
Be sure to follow Dax Dathe, as he continues to pitch well in the Toronto Blue Jays’ system for years to come.