A dream realized at Kauffman Stadium: Lee’s Summit’s Zach Dillman wins BJCL All-Star MVP

All it took was one RBI.

Stepping up to the batter’s box for the first of two times on the night, Zach Dillman had a runner on second with a chance to extend his team’s lead.

It was the Ban Johnson Collegiate League’s annual all-star showcase at Kauffman Stadium, hosted by the Royals. Dillman, a member of the National Division team, was batting in a position he’d never been in before, beneath the bright lights and looking out at the fountains at The K.

“Being a hometown kid, playing on this field,” Dillman said, “catching where (Salvador Perez) caught and hitting where (Alex) Gordon hit — it’s just really cool.”

He didn’t know it at the moment — he was about to come up with a crucial hit and RBI on the same field where some of his idols played. He secured a 2-0 victory for the National Division All-Stars over the American Division and was named game MVP.

“This is my first year in the Ban Johnson,” Dillman, a Lee’s Summit West product, said. “Probably my last as well. I’m going into my last year of eligibility, so (winning MVP) is something special for playing in this league.”

The BJCL began its postseason Thursday, but Dillman’s squad — the BJCL Royals — didn’t qualify. It was his last game in the league and likely of his summer career. Up to that point, the catcher had been a baseball nomad.

He spent time at Missouri State, State Fair Community College, the University of Illinois Springfield and Avila — all teams he’d traveled for throughout the season. That’s why playing in the Ban Johnson and, more specifically, Kauffman, meant more.

“I was done being away,” Dillman admitted. “I was ready to come home.”

At home, the 22-year-old was able to experience a more relaxed version of the game he grew up loving. The all-star game was a chance for him to let loose and “have fun” with other players, most of whom he’d never played with before.

It just so happened he came through with a big RBI.

“The best way to put it is guess and hope for the best,” National Division All-Stars coach Kyle Clifton said of managing a roster made up of players from different squads. “You see their numbers, but you don’t really get to know them until you show up in the dugout. … It worked out for us this time, which is nice.”

As unique as the situation might have been, Clifton took note of Dillman’s skill set early on, which started behind home plate.

“From a catching perspective, you love having someone that can control the game,” Clifton said. “He can keep the ball in front of him, which keeps it off the backstop, keeps the force-outs in play and gives you the opportunity to roll a couple of double plays.

“Then, for him to have a little bit of production in a clutch moment to give us an insurance run? That was phenomenal.”

Whether it was the MVP award or the chance to hit inside Kauffman Stadium, Dillman certainly concluded his summer baseball campaign in a meaningful and unique way. He earned his way to the all-star game and earned the win for his team, yet through it all, he was just enjoying the moment.

“Guys are just kind of in there messing around,” Dillman said. “It’s a lot of fun. I was in the bullpen for the first half of the game (just) talking to pitchers down there (and) seeing kind of how it goes on other teams. … It’s just as fun to get with a bunch of guys from many different places and hear different perspectives.”

The thing that bonded all of them Wednesday evening? Clifton kept it simple.

“As kids, we dream for this kind of moment,” Clifton said, drawing a comparison to his own experience playing in the BJCL. “It’s one of my favorite moments playing in college because I was fortunate enough to play and get a hit on this field. That stayed with me for the rest of my career.

“So to give that to these guys is something special.”