| Sam Hilliard | |
| Team: | Colorado Rockies |
| Number: | 16 |
| Position: | Outfielder |
| Birth Date: | 21 February 1994 |
| Birth Place: | Mansfield, Texas, U.S. |
| Bats: | Left |
| Throws: | Left |
| Debutleague: | MLB |
| Debutdate: | August 27 |
| Debutyear: | 2019 |
| Debutteam: | Colorado Rockies |
| Statleague: | MLB |
| Statyear: | August 10, 2024 |
| Stat1label: | Batting average |
| Stat1value: | .218 |
| Stat2label: | Home runs |
| Stat2value: | 36 |
| Stat3label: | Runs batted in |
| Stat3value: | 90 |
| Teams: |
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Samuel Beauman Hilliard (born February 21, 1994) is an American professional baseball outfielder for the Colorado Rockies of Major League Baseball (MLB). He has previously played in MLB for the Atlanta Braves.
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]
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]
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]
On November 1, 2023, Hilliard was claimed off waivers by the Baltimore Orioles.[17] [18] The Rockies reacquired him 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]
Sam Hilliard is the youngest of three sons.[23] Hillard's mother, Tamara Hext,[24] 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.[25] In March 2018, Jim Hilliard was diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.[26]