The COVID-19 outbreak has caused sports to halt completely, but in the midst of this stressful time and on MLB’s “Opening Day at Home,” UK Health Care would like to highlight the inspiring story of University of Kentucky baseball player Dillon Marsh, who is using his Type 1 diabetes diagnosis to inspire kids and their families – like our patients at the UK Barnstable Brown Diabetes Center.
Marsh on his competing with diabetes: “One of the reasons why I want to make it some day is for those kids and families who are going through a hard time, to just let them know that I’m here. Diabetes did not stop me. I’m here.”
Marsh Honors and Bio:
• SEC First-Year Academic Honor Roll (2019) • 2019 National Top 50 Impact Freshman, #48 (D1 Baseball) • 2019 SEC Impact Freshman (D1 Baseball)
2019 Appeared in 14 games as a freshman, all starting assignments…Posted a 3-3 record with a 6.43 ERA in 49.0 innings…Struck out 45 hitters against 22 walks…Tied Zack Thompson for most starts on the staff…In non-conference play he went 3-1 with a 5.40 ERA in eight starts…The 45 strikeouts were the third-most on the team…Made his collegiate debut on Feb. 17 at Austin Peay, allowing just one run on two hits in 4.0 innings…Logged a career-high 5.0 innings on three occasions, including a terrific start against Arkansas’ high-powered offense on May 5…Struck out a career-high seven at Western Kentucky on April 23…Did not allow a run in 3.1 innings in SEC debut at LSU on March 17.
HIGH SCHOOL Ranked the No. 64 left-handed pitcher in the country by Perfect Game and the No. 486 player overall…Ranked the No. 28 left-handed pitcher in the country by Prep Baseball Report and the No. 272 player overall…2018 Rawlings-Perfect Game Honorable Mention All-American and Atlantic All-Region First-Team…Lancaster Catholic won the state title in 2018…Was named First-Team All-State in 2018…Recorded 315 strikeouts during his prep career.
PERSONAL Full name is Dillon Jeffrey Marsh…Hometown is Elizabethtown, Pa. … Born in Lancaster, Pa. … Son of Jeffrey and Tammy…Has an older brother, Colin…Favorite MLB team is the Boston Red Sox and favorite player is David Ortiz… Favorite baseball movie is For Love of the Game…Recently diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes in June 2017 and is working to spread awareness and show kids with diabetes they can do anything…Chose UK because he “loved the campus and coaching staff and felt this was the best chance to make it to Omaha.”
