Dillon Overton

{{Infobox baseball biography

| name = Dillon Overton

| image = Dillon Overton 2016.jpg

| image_size =

| caption = Overton with the Oakland Athletics

| team =

| number =

| position = Pitcher

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1991|8|17}}

| birth_place = Clinton, Oklahoma, U.S.

| bats = Left

| throws = Left

| debutleague = MLB

| debutdate = June 25

| debutyear = 2016

| debutteam = Oakland Athletics

| debut2league= CPBL

| debut2date = March 16

| debut2year = 2021

| debut2team = Rakuten Monkeys

| finalleague = MLB

| finaldate = July 1

| finalyear = 2017

| finalteam = San Diego Padres

| final2league = CPBL

| final2date = September 24

| final2year = 2021

| final2team = Rakuten Monkeys

| statleague = MLB

| stat1label = Win–loss record

| stat1value = 1–4

| stat2label = Earned run average

| stat2value = 9.13

| stat3label = Strikeouts

| stat3value = 28

|stat2league = CPBL

|stat2year =

|stat21label = Win–loss record

|stat21value = 8–2

|stat22label = Earned run average

|stat22value = 3.75

|stat23label = Strikeouts

|stat23value = 55

| teams =

Oakland Athletics ({{mlby|2016}})
Seattle Mariners ({{mlby|2017}})
San Diego Padres ({{mlby|2017}})
Rakuten Monkeys ({{by|2021}})

}}

Dillon Ray Overton (born August 17, 1991) is an American former professional baseball pitcher. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Oakland Athletics, Seattle Mariners, and San Diego Padres and in the Chinese Professional Baseball League (CPBL) for the Rakuten Monkeys.

Amateur career

Overton was drafted by the Boston Red Sox in the 26th round of the 2010 Major League Baseball draft out of Weatherford High School in Weatherford, Oklahoma. He did not sign with the Red Sox and played college baseball at the University of Oklahoma for the Sooners from 2011 to 2013.{{cite web|url=http://www.normantranscript.com/sports/all_ou_sports/overton-a-star-on-the-rise/article_66b74518-419f-5a7f-9633-d2ed955398be.html|title=Overton a star on the rise|work=Norman Transcript|date=April 7, 2011 |accessdate=December 11, 2014}}{{cite web|url=http://newsok.com/bedlam-baseball-dillon-overtons-return-vital-for-sooners-stretch-run/article/3809134|title=Bedlam baseball: Dillon Overton's return vital for Sooners' stretch run|work=NewsOK.com|accessdate=December 11, 2014}}

Professional career

=Oakland Athletics=

Overton was then drafted by the Oakland Athletics in the second round of the 2013 Major League Baseball draft.{{cite web|url=http://m.athletics.mlb.com/news/article/49835684/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141028171728/http://m.athletics.mlb.com/news/article/49835684/|url-status=dead|archive-date=October 28, 2014|title=A's pick up left-hander Dillon Overton, infielder Chad Pinder in second round|work=Oakland Athletics|accessdate=July 23, 2015}}{{cite web|url=http://www.csnbayarea.com/blog/paul-gutierrez/add-pitcher-shortstop-next-two-draft-picks|title=A's add pitcher, shortstop with next two draft picks|work=CSN Bay Area|accessdate=December 11, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141207173112/http://www.csnbayarea.com/blog/paul-gutierrez/add-pitcher-shortstop-next-two-draft-picks|archive-date=December 7, 2014|url-status=dead}} After signing, Overton underwent Tommy John surgery, a development which significantly lowered his signing bonus.{{cite web|url=http://www.csnbayarea.com/blog/paul-gutierrez/report-tommy-john-surgery-second-round-pick-overton|title=Report: Tommy John surgery for A's second round pick Overton|work=CSN Bay Area|accessdate=December 11, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141207164552/http://www.csnbayarea.com/blog/paul-gutierrez/report-tommy-john-surgery-second-round-pick-overton|archive-date=December 7, 2014|url-status=dead}} He returned in 2014 and made his professional debut with the Arizona League Athletics. He was later promoted to the Vermont Lake Monsters, where he finished the season.{{cite web|url=https://www.milb.com/news/gcs-89301118|title=Oakland Athletics' Dillon Overton returning to form with Vermont Lake Monsters - MiLB.com News - The Official Site of Minor League Baseball|work=Minor League Baseball|access-date=December 11, 2014}} Unfortunately, the surgery did affect his fastball velocity, which dropped from mid-90s to high-80s.{{cite web |url=https://www.milb.com/news/gcs-127111944 |title=Overton bounces back with zeros for Ports |work=Minor League Baseball |first=Ashley |last=Marshall |date=May 28, 2015}} Overton split the 2015 season with the High–A Stockton Ports and the Double-A Midland RockHounds.

Overton began the 2016 season with an 8–4 record and 3.01 earned run average with the Triple-A Nashville Sounds,{{cite web|url=https://www.milb.com/player/dillon-overton-592614|title=Dillon Overton Stats, Highlights, Bio|work=Minor League Baseball|access-date=June 25, 2016}} before being promoted to the Athletics to make his major league debut on June 25, becoming the 11th Athletic to make a start during 2016.{{cite web|last=Stanfield |first=Paul|url=https://www.milb.com/news/gcs-186032022|title=Dillon Overton To Make MLB Debut Saturday|work=Minor League Baseball|date=June 24, 2016|access-date=June 25, 2016}} Overton made 5 starts with Oakland in 2016, going 1–3 with an 11.47 ERA, giving up 12 home runs in {{fraction|24|1|3}} innings pitched. Following the signing of infielder Adam Rosales, Overton was designated for assignment on January 25, 2017.{{cite web|last=Lee|first=Jane|url=http://m.athletics.mlb.com/news/article/214358502/as-sign-adam-rosales-trade-brett-eibner/|title=A's sign IF Rosales, deal OF Eibner to Dodgers|work=MLB.com|date=January 25, 2017|accessdate=January 25, 2017|archive-date=January 26, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170126110612/http://m.athletics.mlb.com/news/article/214358502/as-sign-adam-rosales-trade-brett-eibner/|url-status=dead}}

=Seattle Mariners=

On January 26, 2017, Overton was traded to the Seattle Mariners in exchange for minor-leaguer Jason Goldstein, adding to Seattle's starting pitching depth.{{cite web|last=Butler|first=Alex|url=http://www.upi.com/Sports_News/MLB/2017/01/26/Seattle-Mariners-snag-LHP-Dillon-Overton-from-Oakland-Athletics/2381485473732/|title=Seattle Mariners snag LHP Dillon Overton from Oakland Athletics|work=UPI.com|date=January 26, 2017|accessdate=January 26, 2017}} Overton pitched to a 6.31 ERA for Seattle and was designated for assignment.

=San Diego Padres=

On June 19, 2017, Overton was claimed off waivers by the San Diego Padres. He made one start for the Padres before he was removed from the 40–man roster and sent outright to the Triple–A El Paso Chihuahuas on August 31. In 2018, Overton played for the rookie–level Arizona League Padres, Double–A San Antonio Missions, and El Paso. In 25 games (14 starts) for the three affiliates, he compiled an 8–2 record and 2.90 ERA with 72 strikeouts over {{fraction|99|1|3}} innings pitched.{{Cite web|title=Dillon Overton - Stats - Pitching|url=https://www.fangraphs.com/players/dillon-overton/15627/stats?position=P|access-date=September 24, 2024|website=fangraphs.com|language=en}}

Overton made 25 appearances (22 starts) for El Paso in 2019, registering a 10–5 record and 5.46 ERA with 103 strikeouts across {{fraction|115|1|3}} innings pitched. He elected free agency following the season on November 4, 2019.{{cite web|url=https://www.baseballamerica.com/stories/minor-league-free-agents-2019/|title=Minor League Free Agents 2019|author=Matt Eddy|website=Baseball America|date=November 7, 2019|accessdate=November 7, 2019}}

=Arizona Diamondbacks=

On March 11, 2020, Overton signed a minor league contract with the Arizona Diamondbacks. He did not play in a game in 2020 due to the cancellation of the minor league season because of the COVID-19 pandemic.{{Cite web|title=2020 Minor League Baseball season cancelled|url=https://www.mlb.com/news/2020-minor-league-baseball-season-canceled|access-date=September 24, 2024|website=mlb.com|language=en}} Overton was released by the Diamondbacks organization on May 22.{{cite web| title =Rakuten signs Dillon Overton| url =http://cpblstats.com/rakuten-monkeys-sign-dillon-overton/| website =cpblstats.com| date =December 21, 2020| access-date =December 22, 2020}}

=Rakuten Monkeys=

On December 21, 2020, the Rakuten Monkeys of the Chinese Professional Baseball League signed Overton for the 2021 season. On March 16, 2021, Overton made his CPBL debut. In 17 games (9 starts) for the Monkeys, he compiled an 8–2 record and 3.75 ERA with 55 strikeouts over {{fraction|57|2|3}} innings pitched. Overton was released by Rakuten on September 25.{{Cite web|url=http://cpblstats.com/rakuten-monkeys-release-dillon-overton/|title=Rakuten Monkeys Release Dillon Overton|date=25 September 2021}}

=Colorado Rockies=

On February 18, 2022, Overton signed a minor league contract with the Colorado Rockies.{{Cite news | url=https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2022/02/rockies-sign-zach-neal-dillon-overton-to-minors-deals.html | title=Rockies Sign Zach Neal, Dillon Overton To Minors Deals| website=MLB Trade Rumors| date=February 18, 2022| last1=Franco| first1=Anthony}} In 12 games (11 starts) for the Triple–A Albuquerque Isotopes, he struggled to a 2–7 record and 8.60 ERA with 39 strikeouts in 45.0 innings of work. On July 8, Overton retired from professional baseball.{{cite web | url=https://www.milb.com/transactions/2022-07-08/p-1 | title=Transactions }}

Personal life

Overton and his wife, Morgan, have one son named Oliver Ray who was born in April 2017.{{cite web|last=Drayer|first=Shannon|url=http://sports.mynorthwest.com/263156/the-mariners-have-a-needed-arm-and-new-dad-in-the-bullpen/?|title=Dillon Overton is needed arm and new dad in Mariners bullpen|date=7 April 2017|publisher=ESPN Seattle|accessdate=March 21, 2018}}