Above photo of Landon Dieterich provided by Fredericksburg Nationals/Edward Maurer
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla.-Former Crusader outfielder Landon Dieterich has retired from professional baseball.
The 24-year old from Riesel, Texas announced the decision on Sunday evening, after three years in the Washington Nationals organization. He signed with the team on June 22, 2020 as a free agent, and spent time on the rosters of the GCL Nationals, FCL Nationals, and Fredricksburg Nationals. He was also called up to the big league club on the final day of spring training in April of this year, going 2-for-3 with a double, a run scored, and an RBI. The club released him and nine other players, including former MLB veteran Dee Strange-Gordon, between August 5-10.
Said Dieterich in an Instagram post: “Just like that it’s all over. 21 years of baseball. I’m very thankful for everyone who believed in me, and helped me along in my journey. Grateful for the opportunity’s God has given and for the chance to go give it my best, and I believe I did. I met some of my very best friends in this game and I couldn’t have made it without some great guys as teammates.”
A 6’5, 225 lb outfielder, Dieterich was a four-year starter for the Cru, blossoming into one of the top hitters in D-III after barely having any college interest coming out of Riesel High School. He was an All-ASC honoree in 2019, and wrapped up his collegiate career with a .269 batting average, 27 doubles, 10 home runs and 83 RBIs.
According to a press release on the date of his signing, Dieterich was the first UMHB baseball alum to sign a professional contract since Aaron Barteau signed with the Pecos League in 2017.
After Covid canceled the entire 2020 season for minor league baseball, Dieterich made his pro debut on May 4, 2021, and hit a home run two days later. It marked the first homer in Fredericksburg Nationals history; an honor he will always hold. In his minor league career, he recorded 147 at-bats, hitting .184 with 14 RBIs and three homers.
“My only regret with Landon is that I only got to coach him for one year,” UMHB head coach Mike Stawski said in a statement from UMHB on Tuesday. “He is the perfect representative of what this program is all about. He made us all proud and will continue to do so in the next chapter of his life!”
