Dan Naulty - Early Years

Early Years

Richard & Una Mae Naulty (Dan's parents) divorced in 1976 when Naulty was six years old. After living briefly with his mother in Palos Verdes, California, Naulty returned to Pasadena to live with his father. At the urging of a baseball coach, Richard & Dan moved to Huntington Beach, California when Dan was twelve years old.

After graduating from Ocean View High School in Huntington Beach, Naulty spent two years at Cerritos College before transferring to Cal State Fullerton, where he competed in the 1992 College World Series. Cal State lost in the finals to Pepperdine University; Naulty was the losing pitcher. Four days later, he signed with the Minnesota Twins, who had drafted him in the 14th round of the 1992 Major League Baseball Draft.

Naulty went 0-1 with a 5.50 earned run average in his first professional season with the Kenosha Twins of the Midwest League. A hip injury limited him to just six appearances and eighteen innings pitched. He returned healthy the following season to pitch a combined 146 innings for the Fort Wayne Wizards and Fort Myers Miracle.