Derek Hill (baseball)

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Derek Hill
Hill with the Toledo Mud Hens in 2022
Texas Rangers
Center fielder
Born: (1995-12-30) December 30, 1995 (age 28)
Des Moines, Iowa, U.S.
Bats: Right
Throws: Right
MLB debut
September 4, 2020, for the Detroit Tigers
MLB statistics
(through 2023 season)
Batting average.229
Home runs4
Runs batted in18
Teams

Derek Jerome Hill (born December 30, 1995) is an American professional baseball center fielder in the Texas Rangers organization. Hill was drafted by the Detroit Tigers in the first round of the 2014 MLB draft. He has previously played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Tigers and Washington Nationals.

Early life[edit]

Hill grew up in Des Moines, Iowa with his mother and spent his summers with his father in Northern California, where he played baseball for select teams.[1] In 2011, he moved to Sacramento and attended Elk Grove High School in Elk Grove, California. He batted an even .500 (47-for-94) in his senior season, with 11 doubles, seven triples 30 runs batted in (RBI) and 29 stolen bases.

Professional career[edit]

Detroit Tigers[edit]

Hill was drafted by the Detroit Tigers in the first round, 23rd overall, in the 2014 Major League Baseball Draft.[2] On June 11, the Tigers announced they agreed to terms on a deal with Hill that includes a $2 million signing bonus.[3] He was previously committed to play college baseball at the University of Oregon.[4] Hill spent 2014 with both the GCL Tigers and the Connecticut Tigers, posting a combined .208 batting average with two home runs and 14 RBIs in 47 games between both teams. Hill's 2015 season, in which he batted .238 with a .619 OPS and 25 stolen bases while playing for the West Michigan Whitecaps, was limited to only 53 games due to injury. Hill returned to West Michigan in 2016 where he improved, posting a .266 average with one home run, 31 RBIs, and 35 stolen bases. In 2017, Hill began the season with West Michigan, and after batting .285 with an .812 OPS, he was promoted to the Lakeland Flying Tigers in late August. He played in only nine games for them in which he batted .194.[5]

Hill was added to the Tigers 40–man roster following the 2019 season.[6] On September 2, 2020, Hill was recalled by the Tigers following a season-ending injury to JaCoby Jones. He made his MLB debut on September 4, 2020 as a defensive replacement.[7] He batted .091 with no home runs or RBI in 15 games for the Tigers in 2020.[8]

Hill began the 2021 season at the Tigers alternate training site in Toledo, and was assigned to the Triple–A Toledo Mud Hens in May. On June 3, Hill was recalled to the major league club following an injury to Victor Reyes.[9] On August 8, Hill hit his first major league home run, a three-run drive to left-center off Zach Plesac of the Cleveland Indians.[10] On August 11, Hill was placed on the 10-day injured list after suffering a left ribcage contusion in a collision with left fielder Akil Baddoo the previous night.[11] In 49 games with the 2021 Tigers, Hill hit .259 with 3 home runs, 14 RBIs, and 6 stolen bases. He had the 3rd-fastest sprint speed of all major leaguers, at 30.5 feet/second.[12]

On April 6, 2022, the Tigers announced Hill would start the 2022 season on the 10-day injured list (retroactive to April 4) with a right hamstring strain.[13] On August 1, 2022, Hill was designated for assignment by the Tigers.[14]

Seattle Mariners[edit]

On August 5, 2022, Hill was claimed off waivers from the Tigers by the Seattle Mariners.[15] Hill was assigned to the Triple–A Tacoma Rainiers. On October 26, Hill was designated for assignment following the waiver claim of Luke Weaver. He cleared waivers and was sent outright to Triple–A Tacoma on October 28.[16] Hill elected free agency following the season on November 10.[17]

Washington Nationals[edit]

On November 14, 2022, Hill signed a minor league deal with the Washington Nationals organization. He was assigned to the Triple–A Rochester Red Wings to begin the 2023 season, where he played in 48 games and hit .324/.381/.533 with 8 home runs, 31 RBI, and 10 stolen bases. On June 21, 2023, Hill's contract was selected to the major league roster following an injury to Víctor Robles.[18] In 13 games for the Nationals, he batted .170/.220/.191 with 1 RBI and 1 stolen base. On July 5, Hill was designated for assignment by Washington.[19] He cleared waivers and was sent outright to Triple–A on July 7.[20] On October 2, Hill elected free agency.

Texas Rangers[edit]

On December 27, 2023, Hill signed a minor league contract with the Texas Rangers.[21]

Personal life[edit]

Hill's father, Orsino Hill, is a scout for the Los Angeles Dodgers.[22]

References[edit]

  1. ^ Hull, John (April 16, 2013). "EG's Hill turning heads with play in CF". Elk Grove Citizen. Retrieved June 13, 2014.
  2. ^ "Top pick Hill brings potential dynamic talent to Tigers".
  3. ^ Beck, Jason (June 11, 2014). "Tigers agree to terms with first-round pick Hill". MLB.com. Retrieved June 13, 2014.
  4. ^ "2014 MLB draft: Oregon signee Derek Hill selected 23rd overall by Detroit Tigers". oregonlive. June 6, 2014.
  5. ^ "Derek Hill Stats, Highlights, Bio - MiLB.com Stats - The Official Site of Minor League Baseball". Retrieved November 4, 2017.
  6. ^ Fenech, Anthony (November 20, 2019). "Detroit Tigers protect six players from Rule 5 draft. Here are their selections". Detroit Free Press. Retrieved November 20, 2019.
  7. ^ Petzold, Evan (September 2, 2020). "Detroit Tigers call up 2014 first-round pick Derek Hill for MLB debut". Detroit Free Press. Retrieved September 4, 2020.
  8. ^ "Derek Hill Stats, Fantasy & News". MLB.com.
  9. ^ Petzold, Evan (June 3, 2021). "Detroit Tigers OF Derek Hill recalled from Triple-A Toledo; Victor Reyes to injured list". Detroit Free Press. Retrieved July 27, 2021.
  10. ^ McCoskey, Chris (August 8, 2021). "'On to the next one': Tigers drop sloppy series finale to Indians, 7-5". detroitnews.com. Retrieved August 9, 2021.
  11. ^ Petzold, Evan (August 11, 2021). "Detroit Tigers' Akil Baddoo, Derek Hill to IL; Zack Short, Renato Nunez promoted". freep.com. Retrieved August 12, 2021.
  12. ^ "Statcast Sprint Speed Leaderboard". baseballsavant.com.
  13. ^ Petzold, Evan (April 6, 2022). "Detroit Tigers roster moves: Jose Cisnero to 60-day injured list; Willi Castro to Triple-A". freep.com. Retrieved April 7, 2022.
  14. ^ McCosky, Chris. "Former Tigers first-round pick Derek Hill designated for assignment". The Detroit News. Retrieved 2022-08-02.
  15. ^ Franco, Anthony (August 5, 2022). "Mariners Claim Derek Hill, Designate Kevin Padlo". MLB Trade Rumors. Retrieved August 5, 2022.
  16. ^ "Mariners' Derek Hill: Clears waivers". cbssports.com. Retrieved June 29, 2023.
  17. ^ "2022-23 Minor League Free Agents For All 30 MLB Teams". baseballamerica.com. Retrieved June 29, 2023.
  18. ^ "Nationals' Derek Hill: Brought up from Triple-A". cbssports.com. Retrieved June 21, 2023.
  19. ^ "Nationals' Derek Hill: Scrubbed from 40-man roster". cbssports.com. Retrieved July 5, 2023.
  20. ^ "Nationals' Derek Hill: Remains in organization". cbssports.com. Retrieved July 11, 2023.
  21. ^ https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2023/12/rangers-sign-derek-hill-andrew-knapp-elier-hernandez-to-minors-contracts.html
  22. ^ Rodriguez, Matt (June 15, 2013). "Hill stealing the show at National". Perfect Game. Retrieved June 13, 2014.

External links[edit]

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