Dietrich Enns Bio
Dietrich Arthur Enns (born May 16, 1991) is an American professional baseball pitcher for the Baltimore Orioles of Major League Baseball (MLB). A left-hander who has also pitched in Nippon Professional Baseball and the KBO League, Enns has built a career defined by perseverance through injuries, role changes, and international transitions. He has previously appeared in MLB for the Minnesota Twins, Tampa Bay Rays, and Detroit Tigers.
Originally drafted by the New York Yankees in 2012, Enns has spent more than a decade climbing through the minor leagues, recovering from surgery, and reinventing himself in professional baseball organizations across the United States, Japan, and South Korea. His journey from a 19th-round pick to a multi-league veteran reflects steady development and adaptability on the mound.
Early Life and Background
Enns grew up in the Frankfort, Illinois area, where he attended Lincoln-Way East High School. He developed his game in a competitive Midwestern baseball environment and went on to play college baseball for the Central Michigan Chippewas at Central Michigan University. In 2010, his freshman year, he was named the Mid-American Conference Freshman of the Year after leading NCAA Division I in fewest hits allowed per nine innings and ranking fifth in earned run average.
The following summer, Enns played collegiate summer baseball for the Hyannis Harbor Hawks of the Cape Cod Baseball League, where he was selected as a league all-star. These formative experiences helped him gain visibility and prepared him for professional scouting attention. Enns later completed his degree through Northeastern University’s online program, graduating in May 2022 while playing in Japan.
Path to Professional Baseball
Enns’s college performance, including his standout freshman campaign and his Cape League summer, positioned him as a draft prospect. The New York Yankees selected him in the 19th round of the 2012 MLB Draft. He made his professional debut that same year with the Staten Island Yankees, beginning a long developmental climb through the Yankees’ farm system.
Over his early professional years, Enns moved through the low minors, dealt with a significant arm injury, and eventually returned to deliver strong results at multiple levels. His steady progress and strikeout ability helped him reach the upper minors, setting the stage for his major league debut years later.
Dietrich Enns Career
Early Career (2012-2016)
Enns made his professional debut in 2012 with the Staten Island Yankees, going 2-0 with a 2.11 ERA and 33 strikeouts in 22 games. In 2013, he split time between the Charleston RiverDogs and the Tampa Yankees, earning a Mid-Season All-Star nod and finishing 4-6 with a 2.94 ERA across 28 games.
His 2014 season was shortened by an injury that required Tommy John surgery. Enns returned in 2015, posting a 0.61 ERA with 55 strikeouts across the Gulf Coast League Yankees and Tampa Yankees, making 12 starts in 13 games. In 2016, he reached Double-A and Triple-A for the first time, combining for a 1.73 ERA in 22 starts between the Trenton Thunder and Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders, earning Eastern League Player of the Month honors in April and a Mid-Season All-Star selection.
Minnesota Twins Era (2017-2018)
On July 30, 2017, the New York Yankees traded Enns and Zack Littell to the Minnesota Twins for Jaime García. After three appearances with the Rochester Red Wings, Enns was promoted to the majors, making his MLB debut on August 10, 2017, against the Milwaukee Brewers. He allowed one earned run over 2.1 innings in the start. A strained shoulder landed him on the disabled list in August and effectively ended his 2017 season.
Enns began 2018 in the Triple-A rotation but was designated for assignment in early May. He finished the year splitting time between Rochester and Chattanooga, posting a 4.60 ERA across 22 starts with 106 strikeouts in 129 innings. He elected free agency on November 2, 2018.
Tampa Bay Rays Era (2020-2021)
After a season in the San Diego Padres system and a brief stint with the Seattle Mariners that was cut short by the COVID-19 pandemic, Enns signed a minor league deal with the Tampa Bay Rays on August 18, 2020. The Rays selected his contract on August 3, 2021, and he debuted four days later, tossing a scoreless inning against the Baltimore Orioles. Enns was released on November 17, 2021, finishing his Rays tenure with a 2.82 ERA in 22.1 innings.
Saitama Seibu Lions Era (2021-2023)
On November 23, 2021, Enns signed with the Saitama Seibu Lions of Nippon Professional Baseball. In 2022, he went 10-7 with a 2.94 ERA and 92 strikeouts in 122.1 innings across 23 games. He became the first non-Japanese left-handed pitcher for the franchise to win 10 games in a season since Marion O’Neil in 1953, and the third non-Japanese pitcher overall to reach 10 wins for the Lions in his first NPB season. Enns became a free agent after the 2023 campaign.
LG Twins Era (2024)
On November 19, 2023, Enns signed a one-year, $1 million contract with the LG Twins of the KBO League. In 33 starts during the 2024 season, he went 13-6 with a 4.19 ERA and 157 strikeouts over 167.2 innings, providing a reliable presence in the LG rotation. He became a free agent following the season.
Detroit Tigers Era (2025)
On December 15, 2024, Enns announced a minor league agreement with the Detroit Tigers on Instagram, formally signing on January 7, 2025. In 14 starts for the Triple-A Toledo Mud Hens, he went 2-2 with a 2.89 ERA and 71 strikeouts across 62.1 innings. The Tigers selected his contract on June 26 and named him the starting pitcher that day. In his first MLB appearance since September 2021, he pitched five shutout innings against the Athletics and earned the win. He finished his Tigers stint with a 1-1 record and 5.60 ERA in seven appearances.
Baltimore Orioles Era (2025-Present)
On July 31, 2025, the Tigers designated Enns for assignment and traded him later that day to the Baltimore Orioles for cash considerations. The move brought Enns back to the American League East, where he has continued to contribute out of the Baltimore bullpen and rotation. His versatility as both a starter and reliever has given the Orioles a flexible arm in the second half of the season.
Notable Events and Milestones
Enns’s career includes a Tommy John surgery recovery in 2015, a memorable MLB debut start in 2017, and a historic 2022 season in Japan. His 10-win campaign with the Saitama Seibu Lions placed him in a select group of foreign pitchers in NPB history, and his 13-win 2024 season in the KBO League confirmed his durability as a starter across multiple continents.
Dietrich Enns Career Wins
Enns has accumulated wins across MLB, NPB, and the KBO League, with his most productive stretch coming in international play. His 10 wins for the Saitama Seibu Lions in 2022 and 13 wins for the LG Twins in 2024 stand out as the highest single-season totals of his career, showcasing his ability to log innings and produce at a high level in starting roles.
International Highlights
Enns’s two most decorated international seasons came with the Saitama Seibu Lions in 2022 and the LG Twins in 2024. With Seibu, he became a franchise-historic pitcher by topping 10 wins as a non-Japanese left-hander for the first time in nearly 70 years. With LG, he ranked among the KBO League’s most reliable starters, striking out 157 batters over 167.2 innings.
MLB Highlights
Enns’s MLB career began with a 2017 debut for the Minnesota Twins and has included stops in Tampa Bay, Detroit, and now Baltimore. His first major league win came with the Tigers on June 26, 2025, when he delivered five scoreless innings against the Athletics.
Dietrich Enns Family
Personal Life
Dietrich Enns married his wife, Julie Anne, in 2019. The couple has been a steady presence throughout his professional transitions, including his stints in Japan and South Korea. Enns has spoken publicly about completing his college degree through Northeastern University’s online program in May 2022, an accomplishment he achieved while playing overseas for the Saitama Seibu Lions.
2025 Season Performance
Enns began 2025 in the Detroit Tigers organization, where he impressed at Triple-A Toledo before earning a midseason call-up. His June 26 debut start against the Athletics, in which he threw five shutout innings for the win, marked his return to the majors after a multi-year absence spent in international baseball.
After being designated for assignment and traded to the Baltimore Orioles on July 31, 2025, Enns transitioned into a new clubhouse and continued to log innings in relief and starting roles. The trade gave him an opportunity to contribute to a contending American League East roster in the second half of the season.
With the Orioles, Enns has offered a veteran presence and length out of the bullpen. His ability to handle multiple innings has been valuable for a Baltimore pitching staff navigating a long regular season, and his 2025 campaign reflects the durability and adaptability that have defined his career across three professional leagues.