NORTHVILLE, Mich. – The last few weeks for Dante Nori have been what baseball dreams are made of for a high school baseball player.
The Northville High School senior was named Michigan’s Mr. Baseball while leading the Mustangs to a state title, but his biggest accomplishment came on Sunday night.
Nori was drafted by the Phillies 27th overall in the first round of the Major League Baseball draft, becoming the highest-drafted high schooler from Michigan in almost a decade.
“It was really emotional; I cried for about an hour straight,” Nori told Local 4 about getting drafted. “You get the call, and everything starts pumping.”
Nori committed to play at Mississippi State, but at this point, he’s choosing to go pro instead of pursuing college ball.
“Let’s get going with the Phillies,” Nori said of his future plans. “Let’s get all the physicals done, and we’ll roll from there.”
Nori is known for his speed on the basepaths and his constancy for getting on base.
“I play with a lot of fun; it’s a kid’s game,” Nori said.
The sport is a family affair for Nori, as his grandfather, Fred Nori, played and coached at Indiana University.
And so did his dad, Micah, who has been a long-time assistant coach in the NBA.
“One thing that he’s taught me is to have no ‘what ifs’,” Nori said of lessons he’s learned from his dad. “Do whatever you can do to get to the next level.”
Baseball is in his blood, and a legacy Dante now carries on. A kid with big dreams and a real chance to make the big leagues.
“It’s going to kick into another gear,” Nori said of what’s to come in professional baseball. “You’ve got to work even harder. I’m looking forward to it. It’s going to be tough, but I’m really excited for it.”