Wright State baseball: Dues signs free agent contract with Giants

Butler High School graduate was four-year starter for Raiders
Wright State shortstop Damon Dues steals third base against Milwaukee in the third inning Saturday after hitting a double. Dues homered in fourth to go 4-for-4 with three RBIs, two stolen bases and four runs scored in the first four innings. Jeff Gilbert/CONTRIBUTED

Wright State shortstop Damon Dues steals third base against Milwaukee in the third inning Saturday after hitting a double. Dues homered in fourth to go 4-for-4 with three RBIs, two stolen bases and four runs scored in the first four innings. Jeff Gilbert/CONTRIBUTED

Wright State infielder Damon Dues has signed a free agent contract with the San Francisco Giants to begin his professional career.

Dues becomes the fourth Raider to begin his professional career this week, joining draftees Tyler Black, Quincy Hamilton and Jake Schrand.

A Butler High School graduate, Dues started 116 of his 125 games played in his four-year college career, including all 49 games this spring in the leadoff position for the Raiders. A career .321 hitter, Dues collected 23 doubles, eight homers and five triples as a Raider, driving in 81 career RBI while drawing 111 walks in four seasons. He stole 54 bases in 68 attempts, including going 23-for-27 this spring.

Dues finished his senior season with a .335 batting average from the top of the order, tallying eight doubles, four homers and three triples along with driving in 38 RBI while finishing with a .438 on-base percentage.

A two-time Horizon League All-Academic team member, Dues was named to the 2019 HL All-Freshman team before earning second team All-Horizon honors this spring. He was later named the Horizon League Tournament MVP after going 8-for-14 in the three games with five RBI and 10 runs scored, along with hitting for the cycle in the title game.

Dues capped his Raider career by being named to the 2021 ABCA/Rawlings All-East Region second team in mid-June.

Dues becomes the first Wright State player to begin his professional career with San Francisco since former standout Jon Sbrocco was drafted by the Giants in the 49th round in 1993.