Malvern Prep grad Jordan Dissin excited for ‘surreal’ opportunity with hometown Phillies

Malvern Prep grad Jordan Dissin was drafted by the Phillies. (JP Westerbeck)

After two years of traveling to different ends of the country to find himself as a person and player, catcher Jordan Dissin is now joining the organization that’s closest to home.

The former high school standout at Malvern Prep was selected by his childhood-favorite Philadelphia Phillies in the 12th round of last week’s Major League Baseball draft. The 362nd overall pick out of Saddleback College, Dissin officially signed with the team over the weekend, as announced by the Phillies on Monday.

“It’s kind of surreal to consider myself part of (the organization), considering that I’m going to get ready to play for the Phillies in the minor leagues,” he told Phillies Nation last week by phone. “It’s surreal, man. There’s not enough words, that I know at least, to describe it right now.”

Dissin, 20, `grew up a Phillies fan in Pottstown, Pennsylvania, about 40 miles northwest of Philadelphia. He had posters of Chase Utley and Ryan Howard hanging on his bedroom wall, while frequently making his way to games at Citizens Bank Park with his family.

When it came time for high school, Dissin enrolled at Malvern Prep, which brought him closer to the city during the week. Between classes, competition for the school baseball team in the Inter-Academic League and training in Newtown Square, most of his waking hours during those years were spent in the Philadelphia area.

“I know I’m from kind of far away in Pottstown,” Dissin said. “But since I went to Malvern, I like to consider myself a Philly kid.”

Playing for Malvern Prep, Dissin got a chance to face strong competition in the Inter-Ac from an early age, as well as play with a number of teammates who went on to play Division I or professional baseball. Pitt’s Billy Corcoran and Brady Devereaux, Dodgers draft pick Chris Newell and Pirates prospect Lonnie White were all members of the Friars with Dissin. Learning from these high-level players allowed him to improve from the time he began starting as a sophomore until he graduated in 2020.

Following high school, Dissin headed to Richmond to play in the Atlantic 10 Conference. The year was a struggle as he only appeared in three games. He wasn’t quite ready for the experience, and admitting that was tough. After his freshman season, Dissin decided to transfer, choosing to attend Saddleback College, a junior college in Mission Viejo, California.

“That’s some of the growing I had to do,” he said, “dropping back down and coming to Saddleback. I had to mature a little bit, and I think that’s my greatest achievement among all the other things I’ve done on the baseball field. I think maturing into a man and into a good baseball player and good person really helped me elevate my work ethic and helped me get to this situation.”

Jordan Dissin played for Saddleback College this season (JP Westerbeck)

Taking on the junior-college level this season with a new perspective, Dissin excelled at Saddleback, improving his ability to receive pitches and call a game, along with putting together a tremendous season at the plate. As he batted .393 with a .505 on-base percentage, scouts such as Philadelphia’s Demerius Pittman started to really take notice. The move to JuCo helped put Dissin on teams’ radars, which played a huge factor in his selection in the draft.

“I think that was a little hard for me to accept at first,” he said of junior college being the right path. “But looking back, I think it might have been the best decision I ever made.”

Now officially a pro, Dissin is ready to keep his development rolling. Being drafted is certainly a major accomplishment, but he “didn’t work this hard just to get to the minors.”

Dissin is fully focused on continuing to get better and starting the journey towards the majors. And for a player with local roots, there’s no better final destination than Philadelphia.

“I’m glad I got picked by the one team I was rooting for my entire life,” Dissin said.