Dane Anthony Dunning (born December 20, 1994) is an American professional baseball pitcher for the Texas Rangers of Major League Baseball (MLB). He has previously played in MLB for the Chicago White Sox.
Career
Amateur career
After graduating from Clay High School in Green Cove Springs, Florida, Dunning attended the University of Florida, where he played college baseball for the Florida Gators. Dunning appeared in 17 games as a freshman, finishing the year with a 4.50 ERA. His sophomore year, Dunning began starting more games, as opposed to the reliever role he had his freshman year, finishing the year with a 4.03 ERA in 16 appearances, 14 of which were starts. As a junior, Dunning returned to the bullpen, the role he predominantly had his freshman year. Dunning appeared in 33 games, only five of which were starts, and had a 2.29 ERA. In the 2016 NCAA Division I baseball tournament, Dunning pitched 15.1 innings, giving up only one run.
Washington Nationals
After his junior year, he was drafted by the Washington Nationals in the first round of the 2016 MLB draft. He split time during his first professional season between the Gulf Coast League Nationals and the Auburn Doubledays where he posted a combined 3–2 win–loss record and a 2.02 earned run average (ERA) in eight games between both teams.
Chicago White Sox
On December 7, 2016, the Nationals traded Dunning, Reynaldo López, and Lucas Giolito to the Chicago White Sox in exchange for Adam Eaton. For the 2017 season, the White Sox assigned Dunning to the Kannapolis Intimidators, and after he posted a 0.35 ERA in 26 innings, promoted him to the Winston-Salem Dash, where he spent the rest of the season, posting a 6–8 record and 3.51 ERA in 22 games started. Dunning spent 2018 with both Winston-Salem and the Birmingham Barons, pitching to a combined 6–3 record and 2.71 ERA in 15 starts between both teams.
Dunning underwent Tommy John surgery on March 18, 2019, after suffering a torn ulnar collateral ligament. His surgery was performed by James Andrews. Dunning subsequently missed the entire 2019 season. On November 20, the White Sox added Dunning to their 40-man roster to protect him from the Rule 5 draft.
Dunning was called up to the active roster and made his MLB debut on August 19, 2020, striking out seven batters with just one walk in 41⁄3 innings in a 5–3 victory over the Detroit Tigers. With the 2020 Chicago White Sox, Dunning appeared in seven games, compiling a 2–0 record with 3.97 ERA and 35 strikeouts in 34 innings.
Texas Rangers
On December 7, 2020, Chicago traded Dunning and Avery Weems to the Texas Rangers in exchange for Lance Lynn. On June 1, 2021, Dunning recorded his first major league hit, a single off of Colorado Rockies starter Germán Márquez. Dunning finished the 2021 season after posting a 5–10 record with a 4.51 ERA and 114 strikeouts over 117+2⁄3 innings.
Dunning went 4–8 with a 4.46 ERA and 137 strikeouts over 153+1⁄3 innings for Texas in 2022. He underwent surgery to repair a torn labrum in his right hip at the end of that September, causing him to miss the end of the season.
Dunning made 35 appearances (26 starts) for the Rangers during the 2023 season, posting a 12-7 record and 3.70 ERA with a career-high 140 strikeouts across 172+2⁄3 innings pitched. He pitched in 26 contests (15 starts) for Texas in 2024, compiling a 5-7 record and 5.31 ERA with 91 strikeouts over 95 innings of work.
On March 25, 2025, Dunning was removed from the 40-man roster and sent outright to the Triple-A Round Rock Express. On April 28, the Rangers selected Dunning's contract, adding him to their active roster. He made one appearance for Texas before being designated for assignment on April 30.
Personal life
Dunning is half-Korean, born to a Korean mother, Misu, and an American father, John. He has expressed desire to play for the South Korea national baseball team in the World Baseball Classic. His older brother, Jake, has also pitched in MLB. Dunning married Rachel Castelli in November 2021, and they welcomed a son on May 25, 2023.