Sam Hilliard

Samuel Beauman Hilliard (born February 21, 1994) is an American professional baseball outfielder for the Atlanta Braves of Major League Baseball (MLB). He has previously played in MLB for the Colorado Rockies.

Sam Hilliard
Hilliard at Coors Field in 2019
Atlanta Braves – No. 14
Outfielder
Born: (1994-02-21) February 21, 1994
Mansfield, Texas, U.S.
Bats: Left
Throws: Left
MLB debut
August 27, 2019, for the Colorado Rockies
MLB statistics
(through 2023 season)
Batting average.215
Home runs32
Runs batted in77
Teams

Amateur career

Hilliard attended Mansfield High School in Mansfield, Texas, where he played baseball and basketball. He started his college baseball career at Navarro College before transferring to Crowder College. He was drafted by the Minnesota Twins in the 31st round of the 2014 Major League Baseball draft out of Crowder, but did not sign and attended Wichita State University.[1] Hilliard was both an outfielder and pitcher in college.[2] After one year at Wichita State, he was drafted by the Colorado Rockies in the 15th round of the 2015 MLB draft and signed.[3]

Professional career

Colorado Rockies

Hilliard made his professional debut with the Grand Junction Rockies and spent 2016 with the Asheville Tourists, 2017 with the Lancaster JetHawks and 2018 with the Hartford Yard Goats.[4] After the 2018 season, he played in the Arizona Fall League.[5] The Rockies added him to their 40-man roster after the 2018 season.[6] He began 2019 with the Albuquerque Isotopes.[7]

On August 27, 2019, the Rockies promoted Hilliard to the major leagues.[8] He made his debut that night versus Boston Red Sox and recorded his first major league hit, a two-run home run off Josh Smith.[9]

In the pandemic shortened 2020 season, Hilliard hit .210/.272/.438 with an unsightly 36.8% strikeout percentage before being optioned down to the Rockies' alternate site after the club acquired Kevin Pillar.[10]

Atlanta Braves

On November 6, 2022, Hilliard was traded to the Atlanta Braves in exchange for Dylan Spain.[11][12] On July 19, 2023, he was placed on the injured list with a right heel contusion.[13] While on rehab assignment with the Triple–A Gwinnett Stripers,[14] he re–injured his right heel[15] and was transferred to the 60–day injured list on September 1.[16]

Personal life

Sam Hilliard is the youngest of three sons.[17] Hillard's mother, Tamara Hext,[18] was Miss Texas in 1984 and 4th runner-up in the Miss America pageant that same year. His father, Jim Hilliard, played for the Texas Longhorns football team and was an orthopedic surgeon for 35 years.[19] In March 2018, Jim Hilliard was diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.[20]

References
  1. "Toolshed: Hilliard continues Rockies road". MiLB.com. Retrieved December 14, 2018.
  2. "Bob Lutz: Shockers' two-way threat Sam Hilliard didn't give up on baseball". kansas. Retrieved December 14, 2018.
  3. "Sam Hilliard making waves in Rockies' system". MLB.com. Retrieved December 14, 2018.
  4. Amore, Dom. "Dom Amore: Yard Goats' Sam Hilliard Stoically Carries A Burden As He Pursues Big Leagues". courant.com. Retrieved December 14, 2018.
  5. "Rockies Hilliard rakes in Fall League victory". MLB.com. Retrieved December 14, 2018.
  6. Daniel Kramer (November 20, 2018). "Rockies add 4 players to 40-man roster". MLB.com. Retrieved December 14, 2018.
  7. Brock Sisney (April 12, 2019). "Hilliard swinging hot bat for Triple-A Albuquerque". The Neosho Daily News. Retrieved August 27, 2019.
  8. Kyle Newman (August 27, 2019). "Rockies call up right-hander Rico Garcia to make major league debut; Sam Hilliard also brought up from Triple-A". The Denver Post. Retrieved August 27, 2019.
  9. Kyle Newman (August 27, 2019). "Red Sox rock Rico Garcia, Rockies with 10-6 win in series opener at Coors Field". The Denver Post. Retrieved August 28, 2019.
  10. "Sam Hilliard remains a mystery for the Rockies". October 18, 2020.
  11. Bowman, Mark (November 6, 2022). "Braves acquire OF Hilliard in trade with Rockies". MLB.com. Retrieved November 8, 2022.
  12. Toscano, Justin (November 6, 2022). "Braves acquire outfielder Sam Hilliard for their first trade of the offseason". Atlanta Journal Constitution. Retrieved November 8, 2022.
  13. "Braves' Sam Hilliard: Goes on IL with heel bruise". cbssports.com. Retrieved August 31, 2023.
  14. "Braves' Sam Hilliard: Begins rehab assignment". cbssports.com. Retrieved August 31, 2023.
  15. "Braves' Sam Hilliard: Re-injures right heel". cbssports.com. Retrieved August 31, 2023.
  16. "Braves' Sam Hilliard: Shifted to 60-day IL". cbssports.com. Retrieved September 1, 2023.
  17. "Rockies OF Sam Hilliard's father, diagnosed with ALS, attends Rangers game". ESPN.com. Associated Press. July 22, 2020. Retrieved July 22, 2020.
  18. Amore, Dom (July 9, 2018). "Yard Goats' Sam Hilliard stoically carries a burden as he pursues big leagues". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved July 22, 2020.
  19. Newman, Kyle (August 9, 2019). "As Rockies' prospect Sam Hilliard chases 30/30 – and a potential call-up – he carries his dad's battle with him". Denver Post. Retrieved July 22, 2020.
  20. Grammer, Geoff (June 15, 2019). "Grammer: An Isotopes family grows closer as father fights ALS". Albuquerque Journal. Retrieved July 22, 2020.
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