Dylan Covey


Dylan Charles Covey is an American professional baseball pitcher for the Boston Red Sox of Major League Baseball. He previously played for the Chicago White Sox.
Covey was selected by the Milwaukee Brewers in the first round of the 2010 MLB draft. However, a physical examination performed by the Brewers diagnosed Covey with Type I diabetes. He, instead, chose to enroll at the University of San Diego, near his Pasadena, California, home, and played college baseball for the San Diego Toreros prior to being selected by the Oakland Athletics.

Career

Amateur career

Covey attended Maranatha High School in Pasadena, California, where he played for the school's baseball team. He pitched to a 1.30 earned run average and a.131 batting average against in his four years at Maranatha. As a senior, Covey had a 7–1 win–loss record, a 0.40 ERA, and 138 strikeouts in innings pitched. However, he lost that year, and could not regain the weight.
The Milwaukee Brewers selected Covey in the first round, with the fourteenth overall selection, of the 2010 Major League Baseball draft. He indicated to the Brewers that he was likely to sign with them, but that he wanted a $2 million signing bonus. During his post-draft physical, Covey was diagnosed with Type I diabetes. He decided not to sign with the Brewers, as he needed time to adjust to having this condition. Covey's party was quoted as saying, "They knew they would have to do some special things for Dylan." He ended up turning down a $1.6 million signing bonus offer from Milwaukee.
Covey enrolled at the University of San Diego, and he played college baseball for the San Diego Toreros baseball team. At USD, Covey was near his parents and doctors who he trusted to help him manage his condition. As Covey regained weight, he struggled as a freshman, pitching to a 1–3 record, a 7.60 ERA, and almost as many walks as strikeouts. He improved in his sophomore year, with a 6–3 record and 3.32 ERA, but with 43 walks and 50 strikeouts across 81 innings. In 2012, he played collegiate summer baseball with the Orleans Firebirds of the Cape Cod Baseball League. As a junior, Covey had a 5–4 record, and a 5.05 ERA.

Oakland Athletics

The Oakland Athletics selected Covey in the fourth round, with the 131st overall selection, of the 2013 MLB draft. He signed with the Athletics, receiving a $370,000 signing bonus. The Athletics assigned Covey to the Vermont Lake Monsters of the Class A-Short Season New York–Penn League, and after giving up no earned runs in 12 innings, promoted him to the Beloit Snappers of the Class A Midwest League where he finished the season, going 1-1 with a 4.75 ERA in ten starts.
In 2014, Covey began the year with Beloit, before he was promoted to the Stockton Ports of the Class A-Advanced California League. In 26 games between the two teams, he was 7-14 with a 5.46 ERA. He pitched for Stockton in 2015, compiling an 8-9 record with a 3.59 ERA in 26 games started. Covey began the 2016 season with the Midland RockHounds of the Class AA Texas League, but suffered an oblique muscle strain in May and missed the remainder of the regular season. In six starts prior to his injury, he was 2-1 with a 1.84 ERA. The Athletics assigned Covey to the Mesa Solar Sox of the Arizona Fall League.

Chicago White Sox

On December 8, 2016, Covey was selected by the Chicago White Sox in the 2016 Rule 5 draft. Covey made the White Sox' Opening Day roster in 2017, and he made his major league debut on April 14. Aside from five rehab starts with the AZL White Sox and the Charlotte Knights, Covey spent half of 2017 with the White Sox, pitching to a 0-7 record and a 7.71 ERA in 18 games.
Covey was outrighted to the minors and removed from the 40-man roster on February 18, 2018. He began the season with Charlotte. His contract was purchased on April 28 to start the second game of a doubleheader.
He was optioned back to Charlotte the next day and recalled once again on May 19. Covey finished with a 5-14 record in 27 appearances. On July 28th, 2019, Covey was sent back to triple-A Charlotte after a disastrous outing wherein he did not retire one batter. He finished 1-7 with a 6.99 ERA. Covey was designated for assignment by the White Sox on January 14, 2020, and outrighted on January 21. On January 22, 2020, Covey rejected the outright to AAA Charlotte and became a free agent.

Tampa Bay Rays

On January 30, 2020, Covey signed a minor league deal with the Tampa Bay Rays.

Boston Red Sox

On July 21, 2020, Covey was traded to the Boston Red Sox.

Personal life

Covey was home schooled until high school. He has two older brothers. Covey's father, Darrell, was selected by the New York Mets in the 29th round of the 1968 MLB draft out of Pasadena Junior College, but he did not sign or play professional baseball.