Timothy Charles Dillard (born July 19, 1983) is an American former professional baseball pitcher who played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Milwaukee Brewers. He is a pregame and postgame analyst for Brewers television broadcasts on Bally Sports Wisconsin.
Dillard made his MLB debut with Milwaukee in 2008. He pitched in 74 games as a reliever over the course of four seasons with the Brewers. In his 18-year professional career, Dillard spent most of his playing time with the Nashville Sounds Minor League Baseball team. While with Triple-A Nashville, he appeared in 242 games across nine seasons and set the Sounds' career records for wins, games pitched, innings pitched, and strikeouts.
In 2005, Dillard was named to the Florida State League postseason All-Star Team and chosen as the Milwaukee Brewers' Minor League Pitcher of the Year. He was selected for the 2006 Southern League All-Star Game the next season. His alma mater, Itawamba Community College, inducted him in their Athletic Hall of Fame in 2015.
Amateur career
Dillard played catcher, and occasionally pitcher, at Saltillo High School in Saltillo, Mississippi. After his senior year, he was selected by the Milwaukee Brewers in the 15th round (448th overall) of the 2001 Major League Baseball draft. Having recently undergone left shoulder surgery, his hitting was not as proficient as the Brewers expected, so he instead attended Itawamba Community College (ICC) in Fulton, Mississippi. In his 2003 sophomore season, Dillard pitched and won a school-record 11 games for the Itawamba Indians including a win in the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) Division II College World Series. He was chosen as the NJCAA Player of the Year. The college honored him with induction in their Athletic Hall of Fame in 2015.
In the 2002 draft, Dillard was selected again by the Brewers, this time in the 34th round as the 1,009th overall pick. He signed with Milwaukee on May 27, 2003, after the conclusion of Itawamba's postseason run. Rather than play at catcher as previously drafted, the Brewers chose to utilize him as a pitcher.
Professional career
Milwaukee Brewers (2003–2018) Dillard began his professional baseball career in 2003, pitching for the Rookie Arizona League Brewers and Helena Brewers. 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 in 43 appearances with a 3.94 ERA and was second on the team in saves (10).
He played for the Class A-Advanced Brevard County Manatees in 2005, making 28 starts, and accumulating a 12–10 record with a 2.48 ERA. He led the Florida State League in games started (28), innings pitched (), complete games (5), and shutouts (2). He also came in second in wins (12) and fifth in strikeouts (128). Dillard was named to the league's postseason All-Star team in recognition of his performance. He was also selected by the Brewers as their 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 was also selected to participate in the midseason Southern League All-Star Game, in which he pitched a scoreless inning of relief and allowed only one hit.
Dillard reached the Triple-A level in 2007, playing for the 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, where he began the season. 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 against the Washington Nationals, pitching one scoreless inning and striking out Aaron Boone. He returned to Nashville in late June, but was recalled to Milwaukee that September. Over 13 games with Milwaukee, he pitched innings of relief and accumulated a 4.40 ERA with 5 strikeouts. In Nashville, he went 6–1 with a 1.99 ERA and 55 strikeouts out of the bullpen. He was selected to participate in the Arizona Fall League with the Mesa Solar Sox after the season.