Pitcher Gavin Giese devoted years to pursuing his dream of playing professional baseball. That pursuit paid off this past Saturday, July 11, when the Tampa Bay Rays selected the recent Dana Hills High grad with the 85th overall pick in the third round of the 2026 MLB Draft.
Surrounded by family, close friends and coaches, Giese, 18, watched years of hard work culminate in one unforgettable moment. The emotions quickly set in when his name was announced.
“I was just speechless, to be honest,” Giese told the Dana Point Times about the moment he learned he was drafted. “There’s so much hard work going into that — a lot of late nights and early mornings working out to get better every day.”
In the lead-up to the draft, he met with several teams and participated in the MLB Draft Combine in Arizona, where prospects tested, underwent interviews and medical evaluations. Although it was a lengthy process, it was undoubtedly worthwhile.
Dana Hills right-hander Gavin Giese delivers during a home game this past spring. He was the 85th overall pick of the MLB Draft, by the Tampa Bay Rays, on July 11.
Photo: Don August
The 6-foot-3, 190-pound right-hander originally was committed to continue his career at the University of San Diego — his father’s alma mater. He’ll now join an organization that is known for its strong development of young pitchers. Giese is excited about the Rays’ landing spot and is eager to showcase his stuff on the mound, consistently fill the strike zone and strike out batters.
Dolphins head coach Tom Faris sees a lot of untapped potential. “He was a really phenomenal high school pitcher,” Faris told Dana Point Times. “He has a tremendous amount of upside, but the difference between him and a lot of kids is his diligent work ethic.”
After spending the last couple of years with the pitcher, Faris noted that his arm strength has continued to improve, thanks to his commitment to the weight room, and he has enhanced his overall conditioning.
This isn’t the first time a pitcher from Dana Hills has been selected early in the MLB Draft. In 2017, Hans Crouse was drafted in the second round (66th overall) by the Texas Rangers. Almost a decade later, Giese will look to make a name for himself on the next level.
During his senior year, he posted superlative numbers; a 6-2 record with a 1.76 ERA and 87 strikeouts in 55.2 innings. In his junior year, he posted a remarkable 1.13 ERA with 42 strikeouts. Beyond the statistics, scouts were drawn to Giese’s combination of size, fastball velocity and his pitching arsenal.
His pitches have been consistently clocked at 93-94 mph. This past season, he reached 96 mph on his fastball, which he considers his strength, along with throwing “a ton of strikes.” Giese added that his slider complements his fastball at the top of the zone, and he also throws a changeup with good drop and depth.
“I’m a bulldog on the mound,” he said when asked about his pitching mindset.
Growing up, baseball was always part of Giese’s life. His father, Dan, pitched three seasons in the major leagues with the San Francisco Giants, New York Yankees and Oakland Athletics after being selected in the late rounds of the 1999 MLB Draft. Following his playing career, he became a scout.
“I was around the game my whole life,” Giese said, reflecting on his upbringing in a baseball family. His father never pressured him to pursue a career in the sport, but ever since Gavin saw him play on TV, it has been his dream to follow in his father’s footsteps.
That dream is becoming a reality, and he is one step closer to the big leagues.
Giese said that his dad has been “an awesome help” in his career, advising him on how to approach the mental aspect of baseball and improving his mechanics. He told Gavin, “If you’re going to do this for a living, you’ve got to love it.”
Faris believes having someone who has experienced professional baseball firsthand has given the 18-year-old another valuable resource throughout his development.
Looking back on his time with the Dolphins, Giese shared that he had an incredible experience with his teammates over the past few seasons, likening the team’s camaraderie to a “brotherhood.” He expressed his gratitude to Faris and the entire coaching staff for contributing to his growth and development.
Asked what type of player and person the Tampa Bay Rays should expect from Giese, Faris told Dana Point Times, “They’re not going to get a better soldier. He’s going to go in there and work his butt off. They’re not going to have to babysit him. He’s going to do what he’s supposed to do, and probably even more. He takes pride in everything that he does within the sport.”
Faris advised Gavin to stay humble, understand there will be highs and lows, trust his abilities, and “the rest will take care of itself.” DP