D.J. Svihlik

Dennis J. Svihlik

• Bats Left, Throws Right
• Height 5' 10", Weight 180 lb.

• School University of Illinois
• High School Culver Military Academy

• Born October 29, 1977 in Garfield Heights, OH USA

BR minors page

Biographical Information

D.J. Svihlik had a brief minor league career than became a scout.

Svihlik hit .492 as a high school senior. As a college freshman, he batted .338 and won the starting 2B job as the year progressed. He hit .406 in conference play in 1998 to win Big Ten Conference Player of the Year, the youngest player so honored since Bubba Smith in 1989. As a junior, he batted .359/.425/.657 with 15 home runs, 59 runs and 52 RBI in 55 games. He slumped to .302/.349/.450 as a senior, his homer total dropping to five, and was undrafted.

D.J. signed with the New York Yankees. In 2000, he was 6 for 18 with a double, 4 runs and 3 RBI and had one error in five chances. In 2001, he was 1 for 7 with a triple and run for the Greensboro Bats while having one error in 8 chances at 2B.

The Yankees were impressed with Svihlik's off-field abilities and kept him on as a scout. He signed T.J. Beam, David Robertson and Chase Whitley among others.

Sources

• Illini bio
• Washington Post