Rebels’ Vanderbunt named to Legion All-Star Game

Rhinelander’s Dylan Vanderbunt got an early wake-up call earlier this month, but the reason why proved to be well worth a bit of lost shut-eye. 

Vanderbunt has been named to this year’s Wisconsin American Legion All-Star Game, which will be played Aug. 10 at American Family Field, home of the Milwaukee Brewers. He is one of 24 members of the Stars team, which will face the Stripes squad in the 53rd annual event. 

“I was actually sleeping and my dad came in, or my mom actually came in, and woke me up and gave me the news. So that was pretty exciting,” Vanderbunt said of how he learned of his selection. 

Rhinelander Post 7 manager Dan Huhnstock nominated Vanderbunt for the honor and said it was well-deserved, giving what Vanderbunt has put in to his baseball career in his time at Rhinelander. 

“That’s absolutely terrific for Dylan, well-deserved,” Huhnstock said. “(He) made the American Legion All-Star game as an outfielder. And, you know, he’s going to have a fantastic time down there and well deserved for all the hard work he’s putting over to years.”

Vanderbunt is second on the Rebels’ squad this summer with a .344 batting average with five RBIs. His .488 on-base percentage is tied for second on the club, among qualified players. He has also gone 1-1 on the mound with an 8.53 ERA and 18 strikeouts over 12 2/3 innings. He was stellar in his last pitching appearance, allowing no runs on just two hits with nine strikeouts over five innings in a 10-0 victory at Minocqua. 

Vanderbunt is Rhinelander’s first all-star selection since 2022, when Ryan Jamison took part in the event. Jamison went 2-for-2 and pitched a scoreless inning as part of an 8-5 victory for the Stripes. 

“I played with Ryan Jamison. I believe he went there, so he was a pretty awesome leader for me, so I would say I kind of built off of that with my leadership role,” Vanderbunt noted. 

In addition to his play with the Rebels, Vanderbunt was a valuable member of the Hodag baseball team this spring. He led the team with a .360 batting average and was 13 for 13 in stolen base attempts. On the mound, he was 4-1 with a save while posting a 2.48 ERA and 29 strikeouts over 31 innings. 

In May, Vanderbunt committed to Lake Region State College, a NJCAA Division-I program in Devil’s Lake, N.D. 

“For one thing, he puts in a lot, a lot of work — individually, with his dad, at different camps,” Huhnstock said. “He’s put in a lot of individual work, plus being a team leader at everything. He’s doesn’t miss open gyms. He gets in and gets his work done.”

As for the All-Star weekend, Vanderbunt will take part in an All-Star banquet and reception in Brookfield Aug. 9 and then head to American Family Field for the game Aug. 10. Vanderbunt, and the rest of the Legion All-Stars will be recognized prior to the finale of a home series for the Brewers against the N.Y. Mets. The All-Star Game will take place at approximately 5 p.m.

“It’s kind of like a red carpet banquet dinner, and then staying for breakfast, and then all that good stuff, then Brewers game and then play,” Vanderbunt said. “It’ll be exciting, I think. It’ll be one last hurrah before college. So it’ll be awesome. It’ll be an experience that I’ll remember for a while.” 

Jeremy Mayo may be reached at [email protected].