Sam Hilliard
| Sam Hilliard | |
|---|---|
| File:Sam Hilliard (48915675438) (cropped).jpg Hilliard at Coors Field in 2019 | |
| KT Wiz | |
| Outfielder | |
| Born: February 21, 1994 Mansfield, Texas, U.S. | |
Bats: Left Throws: Left | |
| MLB debut | |
| August 27, 2019, for the Colorado Rockies | |
| MLB statistics (through 2025 season) | |
| Batting average | .218 |
| Home runs | 44 |
| Runs batted in | 107 |
| Stats at Baseball ReferenceLua error in Module:EditAtWikidata at line 29: attempt to index field 'wikibase' (a nil value). | |
| Managerial record at Baseball ReferenceLua error in Module:EditAtWikidata at line 29: attempt to index field 'wikibase' (a nil value). | |
| Teams | |
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Samuel Beauman Hilliard (born February 21, 1994) is an American professional baseball outfielder for the KT Wiz of the KBO League. He has previously played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Colorado Rockies and Atlanta Braves.
Amateur career
[edit | edit source]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
[edit | edit source]Colorado Rockies
[edit | edit source]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
[edit | edit source]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]
Colorado Rockies (second stint)
[edit | edit source]On November 1, 2023, Hilliard was claimed off waivers by the Baltimore Orioles.[17][18]
The Rockies reacquired Hilliard on a waiver claim on February 28, 2024.[19] However, on March 21, Hilliard was designated for assignment following the acquisition of Greg Jones.[20] He cleared waivers and was sent outright to the Triple–A Albuquerque Isotopes on March 23.[21] In 65 games for Albuquerque, he batted .288/.374/.542 with 14 home runs, 44 RBI, and 13 stolen bases. On June 21, the Rockies selected Hilliard's contract, adding him to their active roster.[22] In 58 appearances for Colorado, he slashed .239/.305/.507 with 10 home runs, 27 RBI, and five stolen bases.
Hilliard was designated for assignment by the Rockies on March 27, 2025.[23] He cleared waivers and was sent outright to Triple-A Albuquerque on March 31.[24] In 40 appearances for the Isotopes, Hilliard hit .288/.372/.538 with six home runs, 24 RBI, and five stolen bases. On May 30, the Rockies selected Hilliard's contract, adding him to their active roster.[25] In 20 appearances for Colorado, he batted .196/.328/.412 with two home runs, three RBI, and two stolen bases. Hilliard was designated for assignment by the Rockies on July 1.[26] He cleared waivers and was sent outright to Triple-A Albuquerque on July 4.[27] Hilliard elected free agency on October 3.[28]
KT Wiz
[edit | edit source]On December 3, 2025, Hilliard signed with the KT Wiz of the KBO League.[29]
Personal life
[edit | edit source]Sam Hilliard is the youngest of three sons.[30] Hillard's mother, Tamara Hext,[31] 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.[32] In March 2018, Jim Hilliard was diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.[33]
References
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External links
[edit | edit source]- Career statistics from MLB · ESPN · Baseball Reference · Fangraphs · Baseball Reference (Minors) · Retrosheet
- 1994 births
- Living people
- Albuquerque Isotopes players
- 21st-century American sportsmen
- Asheville Tourists players
- Atlanta Braves players
- Baseball players from Ellis County, Texas
- Colorado Rockies players
- Crowder Roughriders baseball players
- Estrellas Orientales players
- Grand Junction Rockies players
- Gwinnett Stripers players
- Hartford Yard Goats players
- Lancaster JetHawks players
- Major League Baseball outfielders
- Navarro Bulldogs baseball players
- Sportspeople from Mansfield, Texas
- Salt River Rafters players
- Wichita State Shockers baseball players
- American expatriate baseball players in the Dominican Republic