Thomas Dillard Stats & Scouting Report

AB	1489
AVG	.245
OBP	.377
SLG	.463
HR	79

Full name Thomas Dillard
Born 08/28/1997 in Greenwood, MS
Profile Ht.: 6'0" / Wt.: 230 / Bats: S / Throws: R
School Mississippi
Drafted in the 5th round (163rd overall) by the Milwaukee Brewers in 2019 (signed for $397,500).

View Draft Report

Dillard has well above-average raw power, putting on impressive batting practice displays, and he’s a switch-hitter who is especially impressive when hitting lefthanded. Dillard has a compact build and a swing that is short and direct to the ball. He was Ole Miss’ best hitter as a sophomore—leading the team with 13 home runs as well as posting a team-best .439 on-base percentage and .563 slugging percentage. He’s been similarly productive as a junior, although his power largely disappeared in Southeastern Conference games. Dillard projects as an average hitter with a solid batting eye and above-average power potential. He has also been surprisingly productive on the basepaths despite fringe-average speed. He’s swiped 32 bags in 37 attempts the past two years. The question with Dillard is where he will play defensively. He’s primarily been a left fielder for Ole Miss, but this year he did catch a few midweek games for the Rebels. In left field, he’s a fringe-average defender. Scouts see him as a fill-in catcher, at best, in pro ball, with currently well-below-average defense. However, they do note that he hasn’t had much of a chance to focus on catching in college, as he’s played on the same team with Cooper Johnson—one of the best defensive catchers in college baseball.

Top Rankings

Organization Prospect Rankings

TRACK RECORD: Dillard was a hitter first at Ole Miss and a defender second, having moved from catcher to primarily an outfielder before the '19 draft. The Brewers envisioned him as a first baseman, however, and that was his primary position in his first season as a pro at low Class A Wisconsin.

SCOUTING REPORT: A switch-hitter, he saw far more action from the left side of the plate and therefore was more productive. He hit all of his home runs as a lefty and shows raw power with a short swing and natural loft in his swing. Dillard produces good at-bats, making consistent contact and showing mature plate discipline, giving him a chance to hit for average and power. He doesn't run particularly well but has good instincts and a feel for picking spots to steal. In the outfield, he has limited range and an average arm, explaining why the Brewers played him mostly at first base, where he showed surprising athleticism.

THE FUTURE: He will continue to see action as a catcher, and likely at third base as well because of the way the Brewers value versatility. Dillard probably will start the 2020 season at high Class A Carolina.

Draft Prospects

Dillard has well above-average raw power, putting on impressive batting practice displays, and he's a switch-hitter who is especially impressive when hitting lefthanded. Dillard has a compact build and a swing that is short and direct to the ball. He was Ole Miss' best hitter as a sophomore--leading the team with 13 home runs as well as posting a team-best .439 on-base percentage and .563 slugging percentage. He's been similarly productive as a junior, although his power largely disappeared in Southeastern Conference games. Dillard projects as an average hitter with a solid batting eye and above-average power potential. He has also been surprisingly productive on the basepaths despite fringe-average speed. He's swiped 32 bags in 37 attempts the past two years. The question with Dillard is where he will play defensively. He's primarily been a left fielder for Ole Miss, but this year he did catch a few midweek games for the Rebels. In left field, he's a fringe-average defender. Scouts see him as a fill-in catcher, at best, in pro ball, with currently well-below-average defense. However, they do note that he hasn't had much of a chance to focus on catching in college, as he's played on the same team with Cooper Johnson--one of the best defensive catchers in college baseball.

Scouting Reports

TRACK RECORD: Dillard was a hitter first at Ole Miss and a defender second, having moved from catcher to primarily an outfielder before the ’19 draft. The Brewers envisioned him as a first baseman, however, and that was his primary position in his first season as a pro at low Class A Wisconsin.

SCOUTING REPORT: A switch-hitter, he saw far more action from the left side of the plate and therefore was more productive. He hit all of his home runs as a lefty and shows raw power with a short swing and natural loft in his swing. Dillard produces good at-bats, making consistent contact and showing mature plate discipline, giving him a chance to hit for average and power. He doesn’t run particularly well but has good instincts and a feel for picking spots to steal. In the outfield, he has limited range and an average arm, explaining why the Brewers played him mostly at first base, where he showed surprising athleticism.

THE FUTURE: He will continue to see action as a catcher, and likely at third base as well because of the way the Brewers value versatility. Dillard probably will start the 2020 season at high Class A Carolina.
TRACK RECORD: Dillard was a hitter first at Ole Miss and a defender second, having moved from catcher to primarily an outfielder before the '19 draft. The Brewers envisioned him as a first baseman, however, and that was his primary position in his first season as a pro at low Class A Wisconsin.

SCOUTING REPORT: A switch-hitter, he saw far more action from the left side of the plate and therefore was more productive. He hit all of his home runs as a lefty and shows raw power with a short swing and natural loft in his swing. Dillard produces good at-bats, making consistent contact and showing mature plate discipline, giving him a chance to hit for average and power. He doesn't run particularly well but has good instincts and a feel for picking spots to steal. In the outfield, he has limited range and an average arm, explaining why the Brewers played him mostly at first base, where he showed surprising athleticism.

THE FUTURE: He will continue to see action as a catcher, and likely at third base as well because of the way the Brewers value versatility. Dillard probably will start the 2020 season at high Class A Carolina.
Dillard has well above-average raw power, putting on impressive batting practice displays, and he's a switch-hitter who is especially impressive when hitting lefthanded. Dillard has a compact build and a swing that is short and direct to the ball. He was Ole Miss' best hitter as a sophomore--leading the team with 13 home runs as well as posting a team-best .439 on-base percentage and .563 slugging percentage. He's been similarly productive as a junior, although his power largely disappeared in Southeastern Conference games. Dillard projects as an average hitter with a solid batting eye and above-average power potential. He has also been surprisingly productive on the basepaths despite fringe-average speed. He's swiped 32 bags in 37 attempts the past two years. The question with Dillard is where he will play defensively. He's primarily been a left fielder for Ole Miss, but this year he did catch a few midweek games for the Rebels. In left field, he's a fringe-average defender. Scouts see him as a fill-in catcher, at best, in pro ball, with currently well-below-average defense. However, they do note that he hasn't had much of a chance to focus on catching in college, as he's played on the same team with Cooper Johnson--one of the best defensive catchers in college baseball.