Sam Hilliard
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MLB Player Data
DateNewsComment
Jun 21 2024The Rockies selected the contract of Hilliard from Triple-A Albuquerque on Friday. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The move comes with Charlie Blackmon landing on the 10-day IL due to a right hamstring strain. Over 65 games in Triple-A this season, Hilliard is slashing .288/.374/.542 with 14 home runs and 44 RBI over 305 plate appearances. He appeared in 40 major-league games with Atlanta in 2023, slashing .236/.295/.431 with three home runs and six RBI over 78 plate appearances.
Mar 23 2024Hilliard cleared waivers Saturday and was sent outright to Triple-A Albuquerque, Thomas Harding of MLB.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Hilliard was squeezed off the Rockies' 40-man roster Thursday following the acquisition of Greg Jones but will officially remain in the Rockies' minor-league system. The 30-year-old outfielder slashed .236/.295/.431 across 78 plate appearances with Atlanta last season, and he could still return to Colorado this season if the Rockies run into depth issues in the outfield.
Mar 21 2024The Rockies designated Hilliard for assignment Thursday. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Hilliard became expendable after the Rockies needed to clear a spot on the 40-man roster for shortstop/outfielder Greg Jones, whom Colorado acquired from Tampa Bay on Thursday. The 30-year-old Hilliard will now be exposed to waivers, but if he clears, he'll likely stick in the Colorado organization and open the season at Triple-A Albuquerque.
Feb 28 2024The Rockies claimed Hilliard off waivers from the Orioles on Wednesday, Thomas Harding of MLB.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: It's a return to his old stomping grounds for Hilliard, who slashed .212/.294/.423 with 29 homers in 214 games for the Rockies from 2019 through 2022. The move gives Hilliard's fantasy outlook a boost, as he goes from a place where he didn't seem likely to play to a team which has some uncertainty in right field.
Nov 1 2023Baltimore claimed Hilliard (heel) off waivers from Atlanta on Wednesday. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Hilliard missed the final couple months of the 2023 season due to a nagging heel contusion, but that injury should be fully in the rearview by the start of spring training in 2024. The 29-year-old outfielder holds a career .718 OPS in 717 plate appearances at the major-league level and has always put up intriguing numbers at Triple-A.
Sep 1 2023Hilliard (heel) was transferred to the 60-day injured list Friday, Grant McAuley of 92.9 The Game reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The move clears a spot on the 40-man roster for Dylan Lee's return from the 60-day IL. Hilliard will be eligible for activation in late September, but he's without a timetable after having a setback with his right heel last month.
Aug 7 2023Hilliard returned from his rehab assignment, but he re-injured his right heel and remains on the injured list, Justin Toscano of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Hilliard was placed on the 10-day injured list July 19 and began his rehab assignment Aug. 2 with Triple-A Gwinnett. The outfielder has not been seeing much playing time when healthy, primarily serving as a defensive replacement.
Aug 1 2023Hilliard (heel) will begin a rehab assignment Tuesday with Triple-A Gwinnett. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Sidelined since July 18 with a heel contusion, Hilliard's playing time had run dry anyway, as his last hit came on May 5, and he had logged just eight at-bats while appearing in 16 games, primarily as a defensive replacement, since then. Once healthy, Hilliard should resume his small supporting role.
Jul 19 2023Atlanta placed Hilliard on the 10-day injured list Wednesday with a right heel contusion. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Hilliard picked up a rare start in Tuesday's 16-13 loss to the Diamondbacks but grounded out in his lone plate appearance before being lifted from the game ahead of the fourth inning. The heel injury presumably prompted Hilliard's early removal and will now keep him out of commission until at least July 29. With Hilliard on the shelf, Atlanta is left with Kevin Pillar and Forrest Wall as its primary reserve options in the outfield.
Jul 17 2023Hilliard went 0-for-2 in Sunday's loss to the White Sox. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Getting the start in left field and batting ninth with Eddie Rosario (hamstring) unavailable, Hilliard saw multiple plate appearances in a game for the first time since May 23. The 29-year-old's .239/.299/.437 slash line and 42.9 percent strikeout rate on the season don't make a compelling case for more playing time, but if Rosario ends up needing an IL stint, Hilliard figures to handle the strong side of a platoon in left with Kevin Pillar.
May 7 2023Hilliard remains out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Orioles. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The lefty-hitting Hilliard is on the bench for the sixth time in seven games, with four of those absences coming against right-handed pitching. The return of Michael Harris from the injured list coupled with Marcell Ozuna's recent surge at the plate appears to have resulted in Hilliard moving out of a strong-side platoon role, and the impending return of Travis d'Arnaud (concussion) from the IL will only further complicate matters.
May 1 2023Hilliard is not in the starting lineup for Game 1 of Monday's doubleheader with the Mets. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: With Michael Harris returning from the injured list Friday, Hilliard no longer looks like he has a path to regular playing time in center field, but the 28-year-old was still expected to contend for reps in left field. Instead, the righty-hitting Kevin Pillar has started both of the first two games in left field since Harris' return, with Atlanta facing a lefty (David Peterson) and righty (Denyi Reyes) in those contests. Since Hilliard is a left-handed hitter, he would make sense as a strong-side platoon option in left field, but Atlanta manager Brian Snitker appears to be favoring Pillar for now, perhaps in large part to the superior defense Pillar provides at the position.
Apr 28 2023Hilliard isn't in Atlanta's lineup for Friday's game against the Mets. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: With the left-handed David Peterson set to start on the mound Friday for New York, Hilliard will retreat to the bench. Kevin Pillar will take over in left field and bat eighth.
Apr 27 2023Hilliard is not in Atlanta's lineup for Thursday's game against the Marlins. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The left-handed hitting Hilliard is taking a seat against Miami southpaw Braxton Garrett. Kevin Pillar is in center field and Eddie Rosario is in left Thursday for Atlanta.
Mar 30 2023Hilliard has won a bench role on Atlanta's 26-man roster to begin the season. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The former Rockie has some competition this spring for the role, but hitting .417 (20-for-48) in Grapefruit League play and being out of minor-league options put him over the top. Hilliard should get only occasional starts in the outfield while Atlanta's starters are healthy, but he could be used as a frequent late-game defensive replacement.
Mar 10 2023Hilliard went 2-for-3 with a solo home run in Thursday's split-squad game against the Blue Jays. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The long ball didn't come until the seventh inning, but the 29-year-old took Erik Swanson deep to right-center field for his first spring homer. Hilliard failed to make much impact over four seasons with Colorado, but he appears likely to begin 2023 in a bench role for Atlanta.
Nov 6 2022Hilliard was traded from Colorado to Atlanta in exchange for Dylan Spain on Sunday. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Hilliard appeared in 70 major-league games in 2022 but slashed just .184/.280/.264 with two homers, 26 runs, 14 RBI and five steals before spending the final month of the year in the minors. He'll have to compete for a big-league roster spot during spring training in 2023, and it wouldn't be surprising to see him have to settle for a role at Triple-A Gwinnett.
Aug 30 2022Hilliard was optioned to Triple-A Albuquerque on Tuesday. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Hilliard started four of the Rockies' last seven games, but he didn't get much going at the plate, so the Rockies decided to remove him from the major-league roster for the time being. He will have a chance to rejoin the big club before the campaign comes to a close.
Aug 28 2022Hilliard went 1-for-3 with a walk and a stolen base in Sunday's victory over the Mets. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Hilliard reached base via a walk in the fifth inning and stole second base, his fifth theft of the season. Hilliard also recorded a single to center in the top of the ninth and advanced to second via a wild pitch, but he failed to score. Despite the handful of stolen bases, the outfielder has been tough to roster this season with a .184/.280/.264 slash line through 200 plate appearances.
Aug 27 2022Hilliard isn't in the lineup Saturday against the Mets, Patrick Lyons of TheDNVR.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Left-hander David Peterson is on the mound for the Mets on Saturday, so Hilliard will be on the bench for the third time in the last four games. Wynton Bernard is starting in left field and batting ninth.
Aug 26 2022Hilliard will sit Friday versus the Mets. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Hilliard will be on the bench for the second game in a row Friday. Connor Joe will take over in left field and bat eighth against New York.
Aug 24 2022Hilliard is not in the starting lineup Wednesday versus the Rangers. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Hilliard will get a breather as the Rockies face the Rangers and left-hander Martin Perez on Wednesday. Connor Joe will take over in left field and bat leadoff in the series finale.
Aug 21 2022Hilliard went 2-for-5 with one run scored and one steal in Sunday's extra-innings loss against the Giants. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Hilliard got the start Sunday and capitalized as he recorded two hits and his fourth stolen base of the season. Even still, Hilliard is slashing a meager .189/.282/.274 line and has lost playing time in recent days against left-handed pitchers.
Aug 19 2022Hilliard isn't in the lineup Friday against San Francisco. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The Rockies have faced plenty of left-handed pitchers recently, and Hilliard will be on the bench for the fourth time in the last five games with southpaw Alex Wood on the mound for the Giants. Connor Joe is starting in left field and batting seventh.
Aug 17 2022Hilliard isn't starting Wednesday against the Cardinals. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Hilliard is out of the lineup for a third consecutive game since left-hander Jordan Montgomery is on the mound for St. Louis. Connor Joe will start in left field and lead off.
Aug 16 2022Hilliard is out of the lineup for Tuesday's game against the Cardinals, Katie Woo of The Athletic reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: With the Rockies facing a left-handed starting pitcher (Jose Quintana) for the second straight contest, the lefty-hitting Hilliard will bow out of the lineup. Hilliard appears to have taken over as the Rockies' primary left fielder while Kris Bryant (foot) is on the shelf, but the righty-hitting Connor Joe could continue to replace Hilliard when southpaws are on the bump for the opposition.
Aug 14 2022Hilliard is not in the lineup for Sunday's game against the Diamondbacks. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The Rockies are loading up on right-handers against Arizona southpaw Tommy Henry, so Hilliard will be held out in favor of Connor Joe despite reaching base seven times over his last three games.
Aug 12 2022Hilliard went 1-for-1 with three walks and two runs scored Thursday against the Cardinals. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Hilliard continues to serve as a part-time player in the Rockies' outfield and was in the lineup for the fourth time in the team's last nine games Thursday. He's gotten on base at a reasonable clip in that span -- he has a .286 average and .474 on-base percentage -- and has also chipped in four runs scored. For the season, Hilliard is still hitting just .185/.277/.272 across 173 plate appearances.
Aug 10 2022Hilliard isn't starting Wednesday's game against the Cardinals. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Hilliard went 1-for-6 with a run, an RBI, a walk and three strikeouts over the last two games but will get a breather with left-hander Jose Quintana on the mound Wednesday. Yonathan Daza is shifting to left field while Elehuris Montero serves as the designated hitter.
Jul 13 2022Hilliard went 3-for-5 with an RBI, a stolen base and three runs scored in Wednesday's 10-6 win over the Padres. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Hilliard has gone 4-for-8 across two games since he was recalled to fill in for Kris Bryant (personal). That's a vast improvement after Hilliard went 0-for-20 in nine games in June before getting optioned out to Triple-A Albuquerque. The outfielder stills owns a lackluster .183/.254/.292 slash line with two home runs, 13 RBI, 17 runs scored and three steals through 43 major-league contests this year. It's unclear if he'll stick around with the big club once Bryant returns from the paternity list.
Jul 11 2022Hilliard was recalled from Triple-A Albuquerque on Monday, Danielle Allentuck of The Denver Gazette reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Hilliard was sent down by the Rockies in mid-June but will rejoin the major-league club as outfield depth after Kris Bryant (personal) was placed on the paternity list Monday. Hilliard slashed .295/.384/.557 with four homers, four doubles, 13 runs, 12 RBI and three stolen bases over 16 games in Albuquerque.
Jun 16 2022Hilliard was optioned to Triple-A Albuquerque on Thursday, Danielle Allentuck of The Denver Gazette reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Hilliard hit just .161 with two homers, 13 runs, 12 RBI and two stolen bases over 41 games to begin the season, and he lost out on playing time recently. The 28-year-old should have more consistent at-bats while attempting to right the ship in the minors, and he'll likely be one of the top candidates for a call-up if the Rockies need additional outfield depth.
Jun 5 2022Hilliard (head) went 0-for-5 with two strikeouts in Sunday's 8-7 loss to Atlanta. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Hilliard missed four games after making a diving catch Wednesday that sent him into the concussion protocol. He didn't do well in his return, and he's now 0-for-9 across his last three games. The 28-year-old is slashing .178/.261/.297 with two home runs, 12 RBI, 12 runs scored and a pair of stolen bases in 115 plate appearances, so he shouldn't be expected to see much more than the strong side of a platoon with Yonathan Daza in left field now that he's healthy.
Jun 4 2022Hilliard (head) isn't starting Saturday against Atlanta. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Hilliard entered the concussion protocol after making a diving catch in the first game of Wednesday's doubleheader against the Marlins, and he'll be out of the lineup for a fourth consecutive game Saturday. He remains day-to-day for now, but Connor Joe, Yonathan Daza and Randal Grichuk will start in the outfield from left to right during Saturday's matchup.
Jun 2 2022Hilliard is in the concussion protocol after making a diving catch in the first game of Wednesday's doubleheader against the Marlins, Danielle Allentuck of The Denver Gazette reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The 28-year-old didn't appear in Wednesday's nightcap, and he remains out of the lineup Thursday against Atlanta after he entered the concussion protocol. If Hilliard is forced to spend time on the injured list, Garrett Hampson will likely see a slight uptick in playing time in Colorado's outfield.
Jun 1 2022Hilliard is out of the lineup for Game 2 of Tuesday's doubleheader versus Miami. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Hilliard started in left field for the fourth consecutive contest in Game 1 of the twin bill, and he went 0-for-4 with three strikeouts as the Colorado offense was quiet during the 14-1 defeat. He'll head to the bench for Game 2 while Garrett Hampson takes over in center field.
May 17 2022Hilliard is out of the lineup for Tuesday's game against the Giants, Patrick Lyons of TheDNVR.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: After sitting against lefty Alex Wood in Monday's series opener, the lefty-hitting Hilliard now finds himself on the bench versus a righty (Alex Cobb). Hilliard's lowly .169/.282/.323 slash line on the season appears to have cost him a large-side platoon role in the outfield, and playing time could be even harder to come by for the 28-year-old by the weekend, when Kris Bryant (back) is likely to return from the 10-day injured list.
May 16 2022Hilliard is out of the lineup for Monday's game against the Giants, Patrick Saunders of The Denver Post reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Hilliard will take a seat after he went 3-for-16 with a pair of home runs, a stolen base and seven RBI while starting each of the last five games. Despite those solid counting stats, Hilliard is still hitting .169 on the season and looks more likely than the hot-hitting Yonathan Daza to move into a reserve role once Kris Bryant (back) is ready to return from the 10-day injured list.
May 15 2022Hilliard went 1-for-2 with a home run, a walk, two total runs and four total RBI in a 10-4 victory versus the Royals on Saturday. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Hilliard capped a big third inning for the Rockies with his three-run shot to right field. The long ball was the second in as many days for Hilliard after he failed to go deep in his first 55 at-bats of the season. Prior to Friday, he was mired in a massive slump during which he went 3-for-40 with 14 strikeouts over 14 games.
May 9 2022Hilliard isn't starting Monday against the Giants, Danielle Allentuck of The Denver Gazette reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Hilliard started in the last four games and went 0-for-11 with a run, a stolen base, two walks and four strikeouts. He'll get a breather with left-hander Carlos Rodon starting for the Giants while Yonathan Daza, Garrett Hampson and Randal Grichuk start in the outfield from left to right.
May 7 2022Hilliard went 0-for-2 with two walks and a stolen base Friday against the Diamondbacks. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Hilliard continues to start regularly against right-handed pitching in the absence of Kris Bryant (back). He reached base with a two-out walk in the second inning and stole second base for his first swipe of the season. Otherwise, Hilliard hasn't taken advantage of his uptick in playing time, as he's reached base only 11 times across 37 plate appearances while tallying one RBI and one run scored.
May 4 2022Hilliard isn't starting Wednesday against the Nationals. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Hilliard went 1-for-4 with a double in Tuesday's series opener against Washington, but he'll head to the bench with left-hander Patrick Corbin on the mound Wednesday. Connor Joe will start in left field while Yonathan Daza enters the lineup in center.
May 1 2022Hilliard is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Reds, Thomas Harding of MLB.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Yonathan Daza will get a look in center field while Hilliard sits out after he started in each of the past three games while going 1-for-8 with a triple, four walks and an RBI during that stretch. While Kris Bryant (back) is stuck on the injured list, Hilliard looks like he'll see steady reps in the outfield alongside Charlie Blackmon and Randal Grichuk.
Apr 19 2022Hilliard is out of the lineup for Tuesday's game against the Phillies. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Hilliard picked up three starts in the Rockies' last four games, but two of those came while Randal Grichuk was tending to a sore back. Grichuk has returned to the lineup for the past two contests and hasn't experienced any setbacks, so Hilliard looks like he'll be relegated to fourth-outfielder duties for the foreseeable future.
Apr 16 2022Hilliard went 1-for-4 with a double, two RBI and one run scored Friday against the Cubs. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Hilliard drew only his second start of the season, replacing Randal Grichuk in center field. He came to the plate with two runners in scoring position in the fourth inning and delivered a two-RBI double. Without an injury ahead of him, Hilliard appears in line for a bench role this season, as he has seen just nine plate appearances across Colorado's first seven games.
Apr 8 2022Hilliard is not in the lineup for Friday's game against the Dodgers. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Hilliard was the presumed primary starter in center field to open the season for the Rockies, but he'll instead begin the campaign on the bench. Randal Grichuk, who was recently acquired from Toronto, will start in center and figures to cut into Hilliard's playing time. Kris Bryant and Charlie Blackmon will start in left and right field, respectively, while Connor Joe serves as the designated hitter.
Mar 31 2022Hilliard went 0-for-3 with a strikeout in Wednesday's Cactus League loss to the Diamondbacks. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Hilliard appeared in 82 games for Colorado last year, but he hasn't been helping his case for playing time this spring. Across nine Cactus League appearances, he's hit just .190 with a homer, four runs, three RBI, three stolen bases and 10 strikeouts. If Hilliard's struggles carry over into the regular season, Garrett Hampson and Yonathan Daza will likely wind up seeing increased playing time in center field.
Oct 3 2021Hilliard went 1-for-4 with a solo home run in Saturday's 11-2 loss to the Diamondbacks. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Hilliard hit a solo shot off Zac Gallen in the third inning to put the Rockies on the board. However, he struck out in his other three plate appearances. He has three long balls and 10 RBI in his last 12 games but carries a 38.3 K%. The 27-year-old is slashing .213/.291/.464 with 14 homers, 34 RBI and 31 runs scored in 234 plate appearances this season.
Oct 2 2021HIlliard went 1-for-3 with a three-run home run and a walk Friday in a 9-7 victory versus Arizona. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The outfielder struck out twice in three at-bats, but he made up for the whiffs with a three-run sixth-inning blast that brought Colorado within a run in a game during which they once trailed by seven. Hilliard is still batting only .213 on the campaign, but he has been better in recent weeks, slashing .296/.377/.574 with four homers, 13 RBI and two stolen bases in 17 games since Sept. 9.
Sep 29 2021Hilliard went 1-for-5 with a pair of RBI and a stolen base in Wednesday's 10-5 win over Washington. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The outfielder has hit safely in his last two games after going on an 0-for-11 skid in the three contests before that. Hilliard hasn't had a great year with the bat, slashing .211/.288/.441 across 226 plate appearances. He's added 12 home runs, 30 RBI, 29 runs scored and four steals in 78 games. He's received regular playing time across the outfield in September despite the poor batting numbers.
Sep 22 2021Hilliard went 1-for-4 with a three-run home run Wednesday against the Dodgers. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Hilliard took Alex Vesia yard in the seventh inning to record his 12th home run of the season. The long ball was Hilliard's third in his last nine appearances, during which time he has also hit .320. However, even with this nice stretch, Hilliard is hitting just .202/.279/.455 across 197 plate appearances on the season.
Sep 17 2021Hilliard went 2-for-4 with a two-run home run, a stolen base and an additional run scored in Friday's 9-8 win over Washington. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The outfielder put Colorado ahead in the sixth inning with his 11th homer of the year. He got on base with a single in the ninth, stole second and scored what would be the winning run on a Brendan Rodgers single. Hilliard has rarely showed much consistency at the plate with a .202/.280/.452 slash line this year, but he's hit safely in each of his last four starts. The 27-year-old has added three steals, 24 RBI and 27 runs scored in 186 plate appearances.
Sep 15 2021Hilliard (elbow) is starting Wednesday's game against Atlanta. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Hilliard exited Saturday's game against the Phillies after he was hit by a pitch on the elbow, and he didn't appear in either of the last two games. However, he'll start in left field and bat sixth Wednesday.
Sep 11 2021Hilliard (elbow) isn't believed to be dealing with a serious injury after he exited Saturday's loss to the Phillies, Patrick Saunders of The Denver Post reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Hilliard left Saturday's game shortly after he was hit by a pitch on the elbow, and he was dealing with swelling following his departure. However, manager Bud Black said that the 27-year-old could be back in the lineup as early as Sunday.
Sep 6 2021Hilliard isn't starting Monday's game against the Giants. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Hilliard will be out of the lineup for the third time in the last four games after he went 0-for-3 with a strikeout Sunday. Garrett Hampson will start in center field and bat eighth.
Sep 4 2021Hilliard isn't starting Saturday's game against Atlanta. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Hilliard has gone 0-for-7 with a run, a walk and two strikeouts across his last three appearances and will be on the bench for a second straight game. Garrett Hampson will start in center field and lead off.
Sep 3 2021Hilliard is not in the lineup Friday against Atlanta. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Hilliard will head to the bench Friday after starting the past five games and going 2-for-15 with a solo homer, an additional run scored and a stolen base in the stretch. Raimel Tapia will shift to center field while Connor Joe starts in left.
Sep 1 2021Hilliard went 1-for-3 with a solo home run in Tuesday's 4-3 loss to the Rangers. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Hilliard timed up a fastball from Jordan Lyles and took it deep to left in the third to tie the game up at one apiece. It was his first home run since Aug. 8 and his ninth overall of the season. The 27-year-old has been on the short side of a platoon against left-handed pitching for most of the year, which has limited him to just 56 games. Hilliard has limped to a .200/.277/.450 slash line with 15 extra-base hits, 20 RBI, 21 runs scored, two steals and a 15:60 BB:K over 155 plate appearances.
Aug 28 2021Hilliard isn't starting Saturday's game against the Dodgers, Megan Garcia of MLB.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Hilliard started each of the last six games, but he'll get a chance to reset after he went 2-for-19 with two RBI, a run, three walks and 12 strikeouts during that time. Garrett Hampson will start in center field and bat eighth.
Aug 24 2021Hilliard is not in the starting lineup Tuesday against Chicago. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Hilliard has just won hit during his last 11 at-bats, and he'll now get a chance to reset with lefty Justin Steele toeing the rubber for Chicago. Garrett Hampson draws the start in center field Tuesday.
Aug 20 2021Hilliard isn't starting Friday's game against the Diamondbacks. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Although Hilliard started Tuesday's game against left-hander Matt Strahm, he'll retreat to the bench with southpaw Tyler Gilbert on the mound Friday. Garrett Hampson will start in center field and bat eighth.
Aug 18 2021Hilliard is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Padres, Jeff Sanders of The San Diego Union-Tribune reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The lefty-hitting Hilliard sat out three of the Rockies' last four games, with all of his absences from the lineup coming against left-handed starting pitchers. The fact that Hilliard is on the bench versus a right-handed pitcher (Jake Arrieta) on Wednesday suggests that his grip on a strong-side platoon role in center field could be slipping. Garrett Hampson will pick up a start in place of Hilliard, who has gone 4-for-22 with nine strikeouts over his last seven games.
Aug 16 2021Hilliard will be on the bench Monday against the Padres, Jeff Sanders of The San Diego Union-Tribune reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Hilliard sits for the third straight day as the Rockies face a third straight lefty in Ryan Weathers. He's looked good since returning to the majors at the start of the second half, hitting .261/.346/.580 with six homers in 24 games, but the Rockies evidently don't view him as a true everyday player. Yonathan Daza starts in center field in his absence.
Aug 15 2021Hilliard remains out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Giants. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The Rockies are facing a left-handed starting pitcher (Alex Wood) for the second game in a row, so the lefty-hitting Hilliard will remain on the bench for the series finale. Expect Garrett Hampson -- who gets the nod in center field Sunday -- and Yonathan Daza to serve as Hilliard's primary replacements versus left-handed pitching.
Aug 14 2021Hilliard is on the bench for Saturday's game against the Giants. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Hilliard has gone hitless with a pair of strikeouts in each of his last three games, lowering his average to .306 in 10 contests since the start of August. Yonathan Daza is playing center field and batting eighth Saturday.
Aug 5 2021Hilliard went 1-for-4 with a solo home run Thursday against the Cubs ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Hilliard was one of three Rockies to take Jake Arrieta yard in the game, with his home coming in the fourth inning. Hilliard has now homered three times in his last four games, bringing his total on the season to seven. He's also managed two multi-hit games in that four-game stretch, though he's struck out five times in 16 plate appearances. Hilliard has struggled to make consistent contact all season, as he now has a 37.6 percent strikeout rate to go along with a .190/.269/.488 line across 93 plate appearances.
Aug 4 2021Hilliard went 2-for-3 with a three-run home run, a double, a walk, four total RBI and two total runs Tuesday in a 13-6 rout of the Cubs. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The outfielder plated all four of his RBI between the fourth and sixth innings with a three-run homer and a run-scoring double. He has logged consecutive multi-hit contests and has homered in each of those two games. Since July 27, Hilliard is batting .333 (7-for-21) with three long balls, eight RBI and one stolen base.
Aug 1 2021Hilliard went 2-for-4 with a solo home run in Sunday's 8-1 loss to the Padres. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Hilliard slammed a solo home run off Reiss Knehr in the second inning. It was the only extra-base hit for the Rockies and he was the only player to get two hits in the game for them. It was a much needed offensive game after going hitless in his previous four games. The 27-year-old is slashing .176/.247/.419 with five long balls, nine RBI and 12 runs in 81 plate appearances.
Jul 27 2021Hilliard went 3-for-3 with a three-run home run, an additional run scored and a walk in a 12-3 win over the Angels on Tuesday. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Hilliard didn't start the contest, but he still nabbed four plate appearances after C.J. Cron (groin) was removed following his second at-bat. Hilliard reached base in each of his trips to the plate, and he produced a three-run homer to right field in the fourth inning that extended Colorado's lead to nine runs. The multi-hit game was the first of the campaign for Hilliard, who is still batting a paltry .186 on the season.
Jul 24 2021Hilliard went 1-for-1 with a solo home run in Friday's 9-6 win over the Dodgers. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Hilliard stepped up in the ninth in the pitcher's spot and delivered a go-ahead home run to put the Rockies up 6-5 in the ninth. The Dodgers would end up scoring to send things into extra innings but Hilliard notched his first RBI since being recalled July 16. The 27-year-old will see an occasional start but will mostly come off the bench while he's up with the big club. He's slashing .149/.200/.404 with three homers, five RBI, eight runs scored and a 3:22 BB:K over 50 plate appearances.
Jul 16 2021Hilliard was recalled from Triple-A Albuquerque prior to Friday's game against the Dodgers. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Hilliard will rejoin the big club for the first time since early May with four Rockies landing on the COVID-19 injured list. Hilliard struck out 19 times while slashing .108/.154/.324 across 39 plate appearances during his initial stint with Colorado this season. He's is not starting Friday and will likely serve as a reserve outfielder for the time being.
May 5 2021Hilliard was optioned to Triple-A Albuquerque on Wednesday. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Hilliard was called up by the Rockies on Monday and appeared off the bench in the second game of Tuesday's doubleheader. He scored a run but will now return to Triple-A now that the minor-league season is underway. Hilliard has hit .108 with two home runs and four RBI in 20 major-league games to begin the season.
May 3 2021Hilliard was recalled by the Rockies on Monday. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Hilliard was sent down Thursday after hitting .108/.154/.324 through his first 39 plate appearances, striking out 19 times. It's not clear if he'll be able to carve out regular at-bats this time around unless his performances dramatically improve. Carlos Estevez (finger) landed on the injured list in a corresponding move.
Apr 29 2021Hilliard was optioned to the Rockies' alternate training site Thursday. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Hilliard slashed .108/.154/.324 with two home runs and four RBI to begin the season but only started in six of his 19 appearances. He'll now attempt to right the ship at the alternate training site but could return to the major-league club if the Rockies need outfield depth. Matt Adams' contract was selected by the Rockies in a corresponding move, while right-hander Ashton Goudeau was designated for assignment.
Apr 17 2021Hilliard is out of the lineup for Game 2 of Saturday's doubleheader against the Mets. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Hilliard started in center field in Game 1 but struggled at the plate, going 0-for-3 with three strikeouts. Garrett Hampson will shift to center field with Ryan McMahon starting at second base in the nightcap.
Apr 15 2021Hilliard isn't starting Thursday's game against the Dodgers, Danielle Allentuck of The Denver Gazette reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Hilliard will take a seat for the second time in the last three games after he went hitless with two strikeouts in four at-bats Wednesday. Garrett Hampson will take over in center field Thursday while Josh Fuentes enters the lineup at third base.
Apr 7 2021Hilliard went 1-for-4 with a solo home run and two walks in a 13-inning loss to the Diamondbacks on Tuesday. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Hilliard smacked a clutch solo homer to right field in the ninth inning to tie the game at five, though Colorado ultimately succumbed in the 13th frame. The 27-year-old has hit two homers on the season but has played only sporadically and has struck out in four of his nine at-bats.
Apr 3 2021Hilliard went 1-for-3 with a solo home run in Friday's 11-6 loss to the Dodgers. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The 27-year-old entered the game in the sixth inning and still got in a solid complement of at-bats while taking David Price deep as part of a six-run seventh for the Rockies. Hilliard hasn't started either of the Rockies' first two games, a somewhat worrying sign for his playing time this season, and he may need the Colorado outfield to get a little less crowded to move into a larger role.
Mar 20 2021Hilliard went 1-for-3 with a two-run home run and two strikeouts in Friday's spring win over Cleveland. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Hilliard took part in a three-run second inning Friday by hitting his first home run of the spring with no outs in the frame. He was unable to generate any results in his other two at-bats but has now gone 9-for-35 with nine runs, seven RBI, four stolen bases, six walks and 12 strikeouts over 15 Cactus League games. With Brendan Rodgers (hamstring) out for at least a month, Hilliard could potentially carve out extra playing time in the outfield to begin the regular season if Garrett Hampson sees time at second base.
Mar 7 2021Hilliard went 1-for-2 with one RBI, one run, one stolen base, one walk and one strikeout in Saturday's spring win over the Angels. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Hilliard got on base in the top of the second inning by drawing a walk, and he stole his second base of the spring before the end of the frame. He later contributed during the team's seven-run explosion in the fourth inning by driving in a run with a single before he was brought in to score later in the frame. Hilliard has now driven in one run during each of his last three games and is 3-for-10 with three RBI, two stolen bases, two walks and two strikeouts to begin Cactus League play.
Sep 26 2020Hilliard is not in the lineup Saturday against the Diamondbacks, Patrick Saunders of The Denver Post reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Hilliard is hitless in his last 13 at-bats and finds himself on the bench for the second time in the last three games. Raimel Tapia, Garrett Hampson and Kevin Pillar will start in the outfield Saturday, while Charlie Blackmon serves as the designated hitter.
Sep 25 2020Hilliard is not in the lineup for Game 1 of Friday's doubleheader at Arizona. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The 26-year-old rejoined the major-league club at the start of the week and started three of four games since being promoted, but he'll head to the bench for Friday's matinee. Hilliard is 1-for-13 with six strikeouts since being recalled and has a .719 OPS with six homers in 32 games overall this season. Matt Kemp serves as the designated hitter while Raimel Tapia, Kevin Pillar and Charlie Blackmon start from left to right in the outfield.
Sep 21 2020Hilliard was recalled by the Rockies and is starting Monday against the Giants. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Hilliard was sent to the Rockies' alternate training site Thursday, but he'll return to the major-league club with just under a week remaining in the regular season. It's unclear how much playing time he'll see over the final several games of the year. The 26-year-old slashed .238/.304/.488 with six home runs and 10 RBI over 29 games earlier in the season.
Sep 17 2020Hilliard was optioned to the Rockies' alternate training site Thursday, Patrick Saunders of The Denver Post reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Hilliard wasn't in the starting lineup over the past seven games, and he'll now head to the alternate training site where he should see more consistent work. It's unclear whether Hilliard will rejoin the major-league club during the 2020 campaign.
Sep 16 2020Hilliard is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Athletics, Patrick Saunders of The Denver Post reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: He'll be on the bench for the seventh straight game, as trade-deadline pickup Kevin Pillar has essentially bumped Hilliard out of the Rockies' regular lineup versus right-handed pitching. The 22-25 Rockies are beginning to fade in the National League playoff picture, but until the team is officially eliminated, don't expect finding regular at-bats for the 26-year-old to be a priority.
Sep 4 2020Hilliard went 1-for-4 with a solo home run during Friday's loss to the Dodgers. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Hilliard put the Rockies ahead with a solo home run off Dustin May in the fifth inning. It was the sixth long ball of the year for the 26-year-old, who is averaging .250/.321/.526 overall.
Sep 2 2020Hilliard went 2-for-4 with a home run and three RBI during Wednesday's win over the Giants. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The 26-year-old entered Wednesday's contest with only six RBI all season, but he added three more to that total with a two-run homer and an RBI single. Hilliard has a .250/.325/.500 slash line with five home runs in 80 plate appearances.
Sep 1 2020Hilliard isn't starting Tuesday against the Giants, Patrick Saunders of The Denver Post reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Hilliard recorded hits in each of the past two games, but he'll retreat to the bench. Kevin Pillar will make his debut with the Rockies in center field.
Aug 29 2020Hilliard is not in the starting lineup Saturday against the Padres. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Hilliard will get a breather Saturday with Garrett Hampson shifting to center field and Ryan McMahon covering him at second. Look for Hilliard to rejoin the starting nine Sunday in the series finale against the Padres.
Aug 26 2020Hilliard is starting in left field and batting eighth Wednesday agianst the Diamondbacks. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The 26-year-old was originally stationed on the bench for Wednesday's contest, but he'll join the starting nine with Raimel Tapia (elbow) a late scratch. Hilliard has a .226/.317/.453 slash line with three homers through 19 games this season.
Aug 25 2020Hilliard is not in Tuesday's lineup against the Diamondbacks. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: He has played in seven straight games, and while he is hitting .286 with two home runs and one steal in 21 at-bats over that stretch, four of his six hits came in one home game last week against the Astros. Garrett Hampson will start in center field and bat eighth.
Aug 22 2020Hilliard went 1-for-3 with a solo home run, a stolen base and a walk in Saturday's 4-3 loss to the Dodgers. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Hilliard got the Rockies on the board in the third inning with his second homer of the year. He later drew a walk and stole second in the fifth inning. Hilliard has two steals, two homers, four RBI and six runs scored while batting .239 in 52 plate appearances this year.
Aug 12 2020Hilliard is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Diamondbacks. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Meanwhile, Garrett Hampson will start for the seventh straight game, and he's seemingly supplanted Hilliard as the Rockies' preferred third outfielder alongside Charlie Blackmon and David Dahl. Hilliard is slashing a lowly .179/.258/.321 and has struck out 13 times in 28 plate appearances (41.9 percent) this season.
Aug 11 2020Hilliard will remain on the bench Tuesday against Arizona. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Hilliard had been benched against a run of southpaws, but he'll sit again with the right-handed Zac Gallen set to pitch for the Diamondbacks in this one. Raimel Tapia gets the start in left field.
Aug 10 2020Hilliard will be on the bench Monday against the Diamondbacks, Jenny Cavnar of AT&T SportsNet Rocky Mountain reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Hilliard has now been in the lineup against just one of the seven lefties the Rockies have faced this season, as he'll hit the bench against Robbie Ray in this contest. Garrett Hampson will get the start in left field.
Aug 8 2020Hilliard is not starting Saturday against Seattle, Jenny Cavnar of AT&T SportsNet Rocky Mountain reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Hilliard sits for the third straight game as the Rockies face a third straight lefty in Nick Margevicius. With a .208/.296/.375 slash line through eight games this season, he's hardly earned an everyday role. Garrett Hampson remains the starter in left field in his absence.
Aug 7 2020Hilliard isn't in the lineup Friday against the Mariners. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Hilliard came off the bench Thursday, and he'll do the same Friday with another southpaw (Yusei Kikuchi) taking the mound. Garrett Hampson will get the start in left field and lead off.
Aug 6 2020Hilliard is out of the lineup for Thursday's game against the Giants, Thomas Harding of MLB.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: With southpaw Tyler Anderson on the bump for San Francisco, the lefty-hitting Hilliard will get a breather in the series finale. Hiliard, who gone 5-for-23 with a home run and three RBI through seven appearances this season, will be replaced in left field by Matt Kemp.
Aug 3 2020Hilliard is not in the lineup Monday against the Giants. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Hilliard will sit for the third straight contest after going 3-for-16 with a home run and two RBI over his first five games this year. Chris Owings will start in left field Monday, batting eighth.
Aug 2 2020Hilliard is out of the lineup Sunday against the Padres. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Hilliard started five of the first six games of the season, but he now finds himself on the bench for the second straight contest. Chris Owings receives the start in left field Sunday for Colorado.
Jul 28 2020Hilliard went 2-for-5 with a double and a two-run home run in the Rockies' 8-3 over the A's on Tuesday. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Batting out of the No. 8 spot, Hilliard knocked a pair of extra-base hits against Oakland starter Daniel Mengden, his first hits of the campaign. Unfortunately, Hilliard also struck out three times, bringing his total to eight strikeouts in 11 at-bats so far this season. He has started against every right-hander the Rockies have faced and appears to be in a left-field platoon with Garrett Hampson.
Jul 24 2020Hilliard will bat eighth and play left field in Friday's season opener against the Rangers, Jenny Cavnar of AT&T SportsNet Rocky Mountain reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: It wasn't entirely clear how the Rockies' outfield situation would break down, but if Friday's lineup is any indication, Hilliard will be in the lineup against righties like Lance Lynn, the Rangers' Opening Day starter. He'll be in left, while David Dahl is in center and Raimel Tapia serves as the designated hitter. There's a good chance both Hilliard and Tapia sit frequently against southpaws, with Matt Kemp and Garrett Hampson entering the lineup. Saturday's game against lefty Mike Minor should provide clarity in that regard.
Mar 23 2020Hilliard hit .176 with two home runs, three doubles, 12 strikeouts and two walks in 36 plate appearances this spring. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: He struck out a third of the time, which contributed to his poor batting average in a small sample, but he also leads all Rockies hitters with 34 at-bats in spring training. On March 1, Kyle Newman of the Denver Post suggested that Ian Desmond and Raimel Tapia could open the year in a platoon in left field, noting that Hilliard could also get starts there if he makes the roster. While Tapia put up better numbers than Hilliard this spring, he was worth -0.9 fWAR in 138 games last year and has never rated as better than replacement level in parts of four MLB seasons. It seems possible that Desmond and Tapia will indeed platoon when the season gets underway, but sooner or later Hilliard should get a longer look, either due to Tapia's struggles or an injury to an outfielder.
Sep 30 2019Hilliard went 1-for-5 with a walk, a run and two steals in Sunday's season finale against the Brewers. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The game was ultimately a meaningless one for the Rockies, who finished at 71-91, but Hilliard will still enjoy his run, which came on a 13th-inning wild pitch to give his team the win. The 25-year-old made a strong impression in his 27-game debut this season, hitting .273/.356/.649 with seven homers.
Sep 30 2019Hilliard went 1-for-5 with a walk, a run and two steals in Sunday's season finale against the Brewers.
Sep 28 2019Hilliard hit a solo home run in his only at-bat in Saturday's 3-2 win over the Brewers. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Down to their last out, Hilliard was called on to pinch hit for catcher Tony Wolters. Hilliard delivered a solo shot to left off Brewers closer Josh Hader, tying the game, which set the stage for Trevor Story's walkoff an inning later. Hilliard is up to seven homers and 13 RBI in 72 at-bats this season.
Sep 22 2019Hilliard went 3-for-4 with a home run, a double and three RBI in Sunday's loss to the Dodgers. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Hilliard launched a two-run homer in the seventh inning and drove home the Rockies' final run with a double in the ninth. The 25-year-old has been on a tear at the plate over his last five games, going 9-for-15 with four long balls and six RBI. He hit 35 home runs in Triple-A this season and has continued flashing his power since being called up to the majors in late August, slugging six round trippers in his first 54 at-bats.
Sep 20 2019Hilliard hit a solo home run in his only at-bat during Friday's loss to the Dodgers. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Hilliard launched a 406-foot homer pinch hitting in the eighth inning, but unfortunately that would be the final run scored for the Rockies in a 12-5 rout to the Dodgers. It was his fifth long ball of the season and his third over the last two games. Hilliard is hitting .239/.327/.630 across 46 at-bats.
Sep 18 2019Hilliard went 2-for-4 with a pair of solo home runs in a 7-4 victory against the Rockies on Wednesday. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The sample size is still small, but Hilliard definitely has some pop. Six of his 10 hits in the big leagues this year have gone for extra bases, including four home runs. That's why his slugging percentage sits at .556 despite a .222 average. Hilliard also has seven RBI and six runs in 45 at-bats this season.
Sep 16 2019Hilliard is not in the lineup Monday against the Mets. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Hilliard sits as usual with a southpaw (Stephen Matz) on the mound for the Mets. Garrett Hampson gets the nod in center field.
Sep 14 2019Hilliard is not in the lineup for Saturday's game against the Padres. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: With another lefty due up for San Diego (Eric Lauer), Hilliard will remain on the bench in favor of Garrett Hampson in center field. The Rockies line up to face three left-handed starters next week.
Sep 13 2019Hilliard isn't in the starting lineup for Friday's game against the Padres. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Hilliard is headed for the bench with a left-hander slated to toe the rubber for the opposition. Garrett Hampson is starting in center field and will bat second.
Sep 8 2019Hilliard is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Rockies. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The lefty-hitting Hilliard will take a seat with the Padres bringing southpaw Eric Lauer to the hill. Hilliard looked to have captured a near-everyday role in the Colorado outfield in late August, but he'll be on the bench for the fourth time in five contests Sunday. The rookie's opportunities could be limited moving forward following the recent return of outfielder Raimel Tapia from the injured list.
Sep 1 2019Hilliard is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Pirates.
Aug 29 2019Hilliard went 2-for-4 with a two-run home run in the Rockies' 11-8 loss to the Pirates on Thursday.
Aug 28 2019Hilliard is not in the lineup Wednesday against the Red Sox, Thomas Harding of MLB.com reports.
Aug 27 2019Hilliard went 1-for-3 with a two-run homer and a walk in a loss to the Red Sox on Tuesday.