Joe Dillon

Infobox MLB player


width = 150px
name=Joe Dillon
position=Utility player
team=Milwaukee Brewers
number=27
bats=Right
throws=Right
birthdate=birth date and age|1975|8|2
birthplace=city-state|Modesto|California
debutdate=May 18
debutyear=2005
debutteam=Florida Marlins
statyear=September 4, 2008
stat1label=Batting average
stat1value=.260
stat2label=Home runs
stat2value=2
stat3label=Runs batted in
stat3value=17
teams=
*Florida Marlins (by|2005)
*Yomiuri Giants (by|2006) (NPB)
*Milwaukee Brewers (by|2007-present)

Joseph William Dillon (born August 2, 1975 in Modesto, California) is a professional baseball player for the Milwaukee Brewers. He is used as a utility fielder. In mlby|2007, he played first base, second base, third base, left field, and right field.

Career

College

After graduating from Cardinal Newman High School in Santa Rosa, California in 1993, Dillon entered college at Texas Tech University. Dillon's college career at Texas Tech included a 33 home run season in by|1997, a record which still stands today. [ [http://www.cardinalnewman.org/s/206/images/editor_documents/Trinity/08SummerTrinity.pdf Cardinal Newman High School Trinity] ]

Kansas City Royals organization (1997-2001)

On June 3, 1997, he was drafted by the Kansas City Royals in the 7th round of the 1997 Major League Baseball Draft. He played the 1997 season with the Low-A Spokane Indians, the by|1998 season with the Single-A Lansing Lugnuts, and the by|1999 season with the High-A Wilmington Blue Rocks. He split the by|2000 season with the Double-A Wichita Wranglers and the Triple-A Omaha Royals. During his time with Omaha, he suffered a herniated disc in his back.Ang, Kelvin. [http://milwaukee.brewers.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20070801&content_id=2123742&vkey=news_mil&fext=.jsp&c_id=mil "Dillon gets the big call."] "mlb.com" 2007-08-01. Retrieved 2007-09-12] He was sent down to Omaha for the by|2001 season.

Minnesota Twins organization (2001-03)

Following the 2001 season, on December 31, Dillon was drafted by the Minnesota Twins in the 2001 Rule 5 Draft. He was assigned to the Double-A New Britain Rock Cats, where he spent nearly the entire season before being promoted to the Triple-A Edmonton Trappers.

Brief retirement (2003-04)

Continued problems with his back, including increasing stiffness, prompted him to retire during spring training by|2003. On March 24, 2003, he was released from the Twins. During the year, he underwent back surgery to repair the herniated disc. Following that, he returned to his alma mater, Texas Tech University, to coach its 2003 baseball team. His back felt better, and he decided to return to playing professional baseball.

Florida Marlins organization; major league debut (2004-05)

On March 17, by|2004, Dillon was signed as a free agent by the Florida Marlins. He began the 2004 season with the Double-A Carolina Mudcats, before being promoted to the Triple-A Albuquerque Isotopes. He started the mlby|2005 season with Florida, before returning to Albuquerque, only later to be recalled by the Marlins. He made his Major League dubut on May 18, 2005; in four at bats, he had one hit and one strikeout. Over the rest of the season, in 27 at-bats with the team, he achieved a batting average of .167 and one home run. After the season, he was granted free agency.

Venados de Mazatlán (2005)

Dillon joined the Mazatlán Deer of the Pacific Mexican Winter League late in the 2004-by|2005 season, helping the team win the champisonship.

Yomiuri Giants (2006)

Dillon was signed by the Yomiuri Giants of Nippon Professional Baseball for the by|2006 season. He spent the entire season in Japan.

Florida Marlins organization (2006-07)

Upon returning to American professional baseball, he signed a minor league contract with the Florida Marlins on December 20, 2006. The following spring, he asked for, and received, his release from the contract.

Milwaukee Brewers organization (2007-present)

He then signed a minor league contract with the Milwaukee Brewers on April 1, by|2007, and was assigned to the Triple-A Nashville Sounds of the Pacific Coast League. On August 1, mlby|2007, he was called up to the Brewers along with Elmer Dessens when pitcher Scott Linebrink left on bereavement leave and second baseman Rickie Weeks was sent down to Nashville.

Dillon was called up by the Brewers from Triple-A Nashville on May 1, mlby|2008. In a corresponding move, the Brewers designated relief pitcher Derrick Turnbow for assignment. [. [http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/chi-30-rogers-britedec30,1,7703460.column] ] [ [http://chicagosports.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/whitesox/cs-080105barrybondsphilrogerstradewhispers,1,6905589.story?coll=cs-whitesox-headlines] ]

External links

* [http://www.baseball-reference.com/d/dillojo02.shtml "Joe Dillon Statistics."] "Baseball-Reference.com". 12 September 2007.
* [http://www.thebaseballcube.com/players/D/Joe-Dillon.shtml "Joe Dillon."] "The Baseball Cube". 12 September 2007.