Joe Dillon

After graduating from Cardinal Newman High School in Santa Rosa, California in 1993, Dillon entered college at Santa Rosa Junior College and then Texas Tech University. Dillon\'s career with the Texas Tech Red Raiders included a 33 home run season in 1997, a record which still stands today.\n', ' 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 1998 season with the Single-A Lansing Lugnuts, and the 1999 season with the High-A Wilmington Blue Rocks. He split the 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. He was sent down to Omaha for the 2001 season.\n', ' 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.\n', '