Colorado Rockies ink Dillon Overton to minor league deal

The Colorado Rockies have reportedly inked Dillon Overton a minor league deal. The 30-year-old right-handed pitcher last saw time on a Major League Baseball mound in 2017 with the San Diego Padres. He has also pitched for the Oakland A’s and Seattle Mariners.

What could Dillon Overton bring to the Colorado Rockies?

Drafted out of the University of Oklahoma in the second round of the 2013 MLB draft by the Oakland A’s, Overton made his Major League debut on June 25, 2016, against the Los Angeles Angels. Making the start that day, Overton threw 5.2 innings and allowed three earned runs and seven hits to earn the victory.

That would be one of five starts that Overton would make between June 25 and August 5 for the A’s. He would then return to the team in September and finish two games, totaling three combined innings in those appearances.

The win Overton would earn against the Angels would be the only one of his Major League career thus far. In 17 career games with the A’s, Mariners, and Padres, Overton has started seven contests and finished six, logging a 9.13 ERA, 7.74 FIP, and 1.880 WHIP after surrendering 48 hits in 24.1 innings.

Overton stayed in the Padres organization during the 2018 and 2019 campaigns, pitching exclusive in the minors at levels ranging from rookie league all the way to Triple-A. In a full season at Triple-A El Paso in 2019, Overton posted a 5.46 ERA in 25 games (22 starts) as opponents hit .300 against him.

However, Overton seemed to find himself more during his time in the the Chinese Professional Baseball League, throwing for the Rakuten Golden Eagles in 2021. During his time there, he racked up 57.2 innings and logged a a 3.75 ERA while striking out 55 batters.

Overton is the second former University of Oklahoma pitcher picked up on a minor league deal by the Rockies over the last week, joining fellow right-hander Zach Neal as new members of the organization.