Torn UCL Won’t Stop Hudson Dinger From Leading The Mustangs

WEST FARGO, N.D. (KVRR) – Hudson Dinger is one of the top high school pitchers in the state of North Dakota.

The senior, committed to North Dakota State University, looked poised for another dominant season on the mound before suffering a major setback earlier this spring.

But even after being diagnosed with a torn UCL — an injury commonly associated with Tommy John surgery — Dinger is refusing to let it keep him from helping his team chase another state championship.

“You know, my arm just started hurting more and more progressively,” Dinger said. “The first thing the doctor says when you get in there is, ‘Yeah, I’ve got a torn UCL.’”

The injury shut down Dinger’s pitching season, ending what had been a strong start on the mound for the senior right-hander.

Ironically, the pain became most noticeable during one of his best outings of the season. In his lone conference appearance, Dinger threw seven innings, allowed no earned runs and struck out eight batters in a dominant performance.

But as the game went on, something didn’t feel right.

“I just felt more pain than I’ve ever felt and just getting worse and worse and worse,” Dinger said. “Long innings hurt so bad.”

The diagnosis confirmed he would need surgery and would not pitch again this season.

Still, there was one important piece of good news.

“He did tell me, obviously, I could still play — play first and hit.”

For Dinger and the Mustangs, that meant his impact on the field would not completely disappear.

The senior is batting .431 this season for the defending state champions and has embraced a new role after the difficult news.

“When I first heard it, I remember it being around a 30, 40-minute conversation,” Dinger said. “I just heard it was torn, and I just zoned out for the next 30 minutes. The first day was kind of rough, and then after that I realized that sitting around and moping isn’t going to help anything. I’ve got to start focusing on my hitting and helping these guys get ready for the season, because it is going to be my last.”

That attitude has stood out to his teammates and coaches.

“He’s taken a little bit more of a leader role,” Mustangs head coach Jason Beilke said. “He always tries to keep it loose in the dugout and always a little goofball sometimes, but he does a good job. He’s really improved at the plate over the last few years, and he was one of our top hitters this year.”

Sophomore teammate Jake Dangerud said Dinger’s positivity has never changed despite the injury.

“If you would have told me that he got Tommy John, I wouldn’t have known,” Dangerud said. “His personality is so good, even when stuff doesn’t go right for him. So it’s great to have him on the team.”

While Dinger’s future on the mound is temporarily on hold, his focus remains on helping the Mustangs pursue their fifth state championship in six seasons.

And through it all, he hopes younger players can learn from the way he has handled adversity.

“No matter what happens, you can always still go out there and give it your best,” Dinger said. “And I think that’s what I’m trying to show them as best as I can.”

The Mustangs are the 5th seed in the Eastern Dakota Conference tournament. After a win in round one, they play top-seed West Fargo Horace Friday in the Semifinals.

Dinger said the hope is to be back throwing by Spring 2027 for the North Dakota State Bison.