Tim Dillard
Encyclopedia
Timothy Charles Dillard (born July 19, 1983, in Sarasota, Florida
) is a Major League Baseball
pitcher
for the Milwaukee Brewers
. He is the son of former major league infielder
Steve Dillard
.
. He did not sign with them, and instead attended Itawamba Community College
. In 2002, Dillard was selected by the Brewers again in the draft, this time in the 34th round as the 1,009th overall pick. Dillard signed with the team on May 27, 2003.
. He played in 14 games, made 4 starts
, and went 1–2 with a 3.29 ERA
. In 2004, Dillard was primarily a reliever
for the Class A Beloit Snappers
. He went 2–5 with a 3.94 ERA and was second on the team in saves, with 10.
He played for the Class A-Advanced Brevard County Manatees
in 2005. He made 28 starts, and went 12–10 with a 2.48 ERA. His performance that year included being named to the Florida State League
postseason All-Star team. He also led the league in games started (28), innings pitched (185⅓), ERA (2.48), complete game
s (5), and shutout
s (2). Dillard also came in second in win
s with 12 and fifth in strikeout
s (128). Following the season, he was named the Brewers Minor League Pitcher of the Year.
In 2006, while playing for the Double-A Huntsville Stars
, Dillard made 25 starts and 4 relief appearances. In those 29 games, he went 10–7 with a 3.26 ERA. He led the Stars in wins (10), starts (25), innings pitched (163), and came in second in strikeouts (108). He also tied for first in complete games and shutouts with one each. Dillard was a Southern League
mid-season All-Star that season.
Dillard reached the Triple-A level in 2007, playing for the Triple-A Nashville Sounds
. He went 8–4 with a 4.74 ERA in 34 games (16 starts). On November 19, his contract was purchased by the Brewers, protecting him from the Rule 5 draft
. He was later optioned back to Nashville on March 15, 2008. On May 23, Dillard was called up to the majors for the first time in his career. He made his major league debut that night, pitching one inning and recording a strikeout.
On February 3, 2010, Dillard was designated for assignment
by the Brewers to make room on the roster for Marco Estrada
. He cleared waivers and was assigned to Nashville on February 5. He played the entire season with Nashville while he completely overhauled his pitching delivery from traditional over-the-top to sidearm. He has received an invition to spring training with the Brewers in 2011. Dillard began the season at Nashville, but was recalled by the Brewers on May 13, 2011.
Sarasota, Florida
Sarasota is a city located in Sarasota County on the southwestern coast of the U.S. state of Florida. It is south of the Tampa Bay Area and north of Fort Myers...
) is a Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
pitcher
Pitcher
In baseball, the pitcher is the player who throwsthe baseball from the pitcher's mound toward the catcher to begin each play, with the goal of retiring a batter, who attempts to either make contact with the pitched ball or draw a walk. In the numbering system used to record defensive plays, the...
for the Milwaukee Brewers
Milwaukee Brewers
The Milwaukee Brewers are a professional baseball team based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, currently playing in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's National League...
. He is the son of former major league infielder
Infielder
An infielder is a baseball player stationed at one of four defensive "infield" positions on the baseball field.-Standard arrangement of positions:In a game of baseball, two teams of nine players take turns playing offensive and defensive roles...
Steve Dillard
Steve Dillard (baseball)
Stephen Bradley Dillard is a former reserve infielder in Major League Baseball, playing mainly as second baseman with four different teams between 1975 and 1982...
.
College career
Dillard was selected by the Milwaukee Brewers in the 15th round (448th overall) of the 2001 Major League Baseball Draft2001 Major League Baseball Draft
-First Round Selections:-Supplemental First Round Selections:-Background:The Minnesota Twins selected St. Paul, MN native Joe Mauer with the number one pick in the 2001 draft. The 18-year-old Mauer, a catcher from Cretin-Derham Hall High School in St. Paul, became the seventh Minnesotan to be...
. He did not sign with them, and instead attended Itawamba Community College
Itawamba Community College
Itawamba Community College, formerly known as Itawamba Junior College, is a community college in Mississippi, United States, with two campuses; the main campus is located in Fulton, and a branch campus in Tupelo that mainly handles technical education programs. It serves Chickasaw, Itawamba, Lee,...
. In 2002, Dillard was selected by the Brewers again in the draft, this time in the 34th round as the 1,009th overall pick. Dillard signed with the team on May 27, 2003.
Professional career
Dillard began his professional career in 2003, playing at the Rookie Level with the Arizona League Brewers and the Helena BrewersHelena Brewers
The Helena Brewers are a minor league baseball team in the Pioneer League and are the Advanced Rookie League affiliate of the Milwaukee Brewers. They are located in Helena, Montana...
. He played in 14 games, made 4 starts
Starting pitcher
In baseball or softball, a starting pitcher is the pitcher who delivers the first pitch to the first batter of a game. A pitcher who enters the game after the first pitch of the game is a relief pitcher....
, and went 1–2 with a 3.29 ERA
Earned run average
In baseball statistics, earned run average is the mean of earned runs given up by a pitcher per nine innings pitched. It is determined by dividing the number of earned runs allowed by the number of innings pitched and multiplying by nine...
. In 2004, Dillard was primarily a reliever
Relief pitcher
A relief pitcher or reliever is a baseball or softball pitcher who enters the game after the starting pitcher is removed due to injury, ineffectiveness, fatigue, ejection, or for other strategic reasons, such as being substituted by a pinch hitter...
for the Class A Beloit Snappers
Beloit Snappers
The Beloit Snappers are a Class A minor league baseball team, affiliated with the Minnesota Twins, that plays in the Midwest League.Beloit joined the Midwest League as an expansion franchise in 1982. They were a Milwaukee Brewers farm team from its beginning through 2004; they switched to the...
. He went 2–5 with a 3.94 ERA and was second on the team in saves, with 10.
He played for the Class A-Advanced Brevard County Manatees
Brevard County Manatees
The Brevard County Manatees are a minor league baseball team of the Florida State League, and are the A-Advanced affiliate of the Milwaukee Brewers...
in 2005. He made 28 starts, and went 12–10 with a 2.48 ERA. His performance that year included being named to the Florida State League
Florida State League
The Florida State League is a Class A-Advanced minor league baseball league operating in the state of Florida. They are one of three leagues currently operating in Class A-Advanced, the third highest of six classifications of minor leagues...
postseason All-Star team. He also led the league in games started (28), innings pitched (185⅓), ERA (2.48), complete game
Complete game
In baseball, a complete game is the act of a pitcher pitching an entire game without the benefit of a relief pitcher.As demonstrated by the charts below, in the early 20th century, it was common for most good Major League Baseball pitchers to pitch a complete game almost every start. Pitchers were...
s (5), and shutout
Shutout
In team sports, a shutout refers to a game in which one team prevents the opposing team from scoring. While possible in most major sports, they are highly improbable in some sports, such as basketball....
s (2). Dillard also came in second in win
Win (baseball)
In professional baseball, there are two types of decisions: a win and a loss . In each game, one pitcher on the winning team is awarded a win and one pitcher on the losing team is given a loss in their respective statistics. These pitchers are collectively known as the pitchers of record. Only...
s with 12 and fifth in strikeout
Strikeout
In baseball or softball, a strikeout or strike-out occurs when a batter receives three strikes during his time at bat. A strikeout is a statistic recorded for both pitchers and batters....
s (128). Following the season, he was named the Brewers Minor League Pitcher of the Year.
In 2006, while playing for the Double-A Huntsville Stars
Huntsville Stars
The Huntsville Stars are a minor league baseball team of the Southern League and are the Double-A affiliate of the Milwaukee Brewers. They are located in Huntsville, Alabama and are named for the space industry with which Huntsville is economically tied .The Stars play their home games at Joe W...
, Dillard made 25 starts and 4 relief appearances. In those 29 games, he went 10–7 with a 3.26 ERA. He led the Stars in wins (10), starts (25), innings pitched (163), and came in second in strikeouts (108). He also tied for first in complete games and shutouts with one each. Dillard was a Southern League
Southern League (baseball)
The Southern League is a minor league baseball league which operates in the Southern United States. It is classified a Double-A league. The original league was formed in , and shut down in . A new league, the Southern Association, was formed in , consisting of twelve teams...
mid-season All-Star that season.
Dillard reached the Triple-A level in 2007, playing for the Triple-A Nashville Sounds
Nashville Sounds
The Nashville Sounds are a minor league baseball team of the Pacific Coast League , and the Triple-A affiliate of the Milwaukee Brewers. They are located in Nashville, Tennessee, and are named for the city's association with the music industry...
. He went 8–4 with a 4.74 ERA in 34 games (16 starts). On November 19, his contract was purchased by the Brewers, protecting him from the Rule 5 draft
Rule 5 draft
The Rule 5 draft is a Major League Baseball player draft that occurs each year in December, at the annual Winter Meeting of general managers. The Rule 5 draft aims to prevent teams from stockpiling too many young players on their minor league affiliate teams when other teams would be willing to...
. He was later optioned back to Nashville on March 15, 2008. On May 23, Dillard was called up to the majors for the first time in his career. He made his major league debut that night, pitching one inning and recording a strikeout.
On February 3, 2010, Dillard was designated for assignment
Designated for assignment
Designated for assignment is a contractual term used in Major League Baseball. When a player is designated for assignment, he is immediately removed from the club's 40-man roster. This gives the club 10 days to decide what to do with the player while freeing up a roster spot for another...
by the Brewers to make room on the roster for Marco Estrada
Marco Estrada (baseball)
Marco René Estrada is a Major League Baseball right-handed pitcher for the Milwaukee Brewers.-Early life:...
. He cleared waivers and was assigned to Nashville on February 5. He played the entire season with Nashville while he completely overhauled his pitching delivery from traditional over-the-top to sidearm. He has received an invition to spring training with the Brewers in 2011. Dillard began the season at Nashville, but was recalled by the Brewers on May 13, 2011.