Rockies Avoid Arbitration With Sam Hilliard, Lucas Gilbreath
The Colorado Rockies announced on Friday that they agreed to one-year deals with outfielder Sam Hilliard and left-hander Lucas Gilbreath to avoid salary arbitration. Hilliard, who received an even $1 million, earned a starting role in the outfield down the stretch in his return to the team in 2024 and ultimately finished with a .239/.305/.507 slash line, .812 OPS, 10 homers, 27 RBI, five stolen bases and 26 runs scored in just 58 games played. The 30-year-old has a lot of swing and miss to his game, though, and could be competing for a starting gig in spring training. Gilbreath signed for $785,000 battled through an injury-riddled 2024 season and was only able to pitch one inning in the big leagues. The 28-year-old southpaw gave up six earned runs in that one inning and will return (hopefully healthy) in 2025 to give the Rockies some left-handed relief depth.
Colorado Rockies outfielder Sam Hilliard showed off his power on Wednesday, going 2-for-4 with two home runs and three RBI in the win over the hosting Cincinnati Reds. After smashing a two-run homer to right field to put the Rockies up 2-0 in the third inning, Hilliard belted his second homer of the game to left field to push Colorado's lead to 4-1 in the fifth inning. The 30-year-old veteran outfielder has now gone 4-for-15 with two stolen bases over 11 appearances this year, and he remains far off the fantasy radar without a clear role in the outfield. More performances like Wednesday's could change that, though.
Sam Hilliard Claimed Off Waivers By Rockies From Orioles
The Colorado Rockies have claimed outfielder Sam Hilliard off waivers from the Baltimore Orioles. The O's had claimed him earlier in the offseason from the Atlanta Braves where he appeared in 40 games in the 2023 season, hitting .236 with three home runs and four stolen bases across just 78 trips to the plate. Now, the 30-year-old returns to the organization where he spent the first four seasons of his big-league career from 2019-2022. He appeared in 214 games with the Rockies, slugging a career-high 14 home runs in the 2021 season. His bat has largely been well below the league average in his career as he owns a .215 lifetime average with 32 homers, 19 steals, and a .718 OPS across 254 games, production that grades out 22% below the league average, as per his 78 wRC+.
Orioles Claim Sam Hilliard Off Waivers From Braves
The Baltimore Orioles claimed outfielder Sam Hilliard (heel) off waivers from the Atlanta Braves on Wednesday and designated right-hander Joey Krehbiel for assignment in a corresponding move. Before missing the end of the regular season in 2023 due to a heel injury, Hilliard went 17-for-72 (.236) with three home runs, five doubles, six RBI, four stolen bases and 15 runs scored in 40 games in his fifth big-league season and first in Atlanta. The 29-year-old should be fully healed up in time for the start of spring training in 2024, where he will compete for a roster spot in Baltimore. In 254 career major-league games, Hilliard has a .215/.294/.424 slash line with 32 homers, 77 RBI and 19 stolen bases.
The Atlanta Braves placed outfielder Sam Hilliard (heel) on the 10-day injured list on Tuesday with a right heel contusion, which he suffered running the bases. There is no timetable for his return. Hilliard was putting up decent numbers with the bat before the injury, slashing .236/.295/.431 with three homers and four steals across 40 games. The injury opens up more playing time for Kevin Pillar, who owns a .245 batting average ad .749 OPS over 48 contests. In a corresponding move, the Braves recalled right-hander Seth Elledge from Triple-A Gwinnett.
Atlanta Braves outfielder Sam Hilliard is back in the starting lineup Tuesday against the Los Angeles Dodgers and right-hander Bobby Miller. It's his first game action since May 16 but Hilliard has been rather productive at the plate this season. The former Colorado Rockie is hitting .258 with three homers, four stolen bases, and a .789 OPS across 72 plate appearances on the season. His 41.7% K% is a concern but Hilliard's overall production has been 12% above the league average, as per his 112 wRC+. His career 33.6% K% is rather bloated but Hilliard has a solid track record of hitting for power given his .211 isolated power for his career. He'll hit ninth and man center field Tuesday night in Atlanta.
Atlanta Braves outfielder Sam Hilliard is not in Monday's starting lineup versus the San Diego Padres. With Padres left-hander Ryan Weathers on the mound, the Braves are stacking right-handed bats which leaves the lefty-swinging Hilliard on the bench to start. Acquired in an off-season trade with the Rockies, Hilliard has been excellent for the Braves with a .308 average alongside a homer, two steals, and a .976 OPS across 32 trips to the plate. He does sport a sky-high 43.8% K% but has at least mitigated that figure with an excellent 18.8% BB%. Eli White will take over for Hilliard in center field and hit ninth Monday night in San Diego.
Sam Hilliard Picks Up Second Stolen Base Wednesday
Atlanta Braves outfielder Sam Hilliard went 0-for-2 with a run scored, his second stolen base of the season, a walk and a strikeout in the team's 5-4 win over the Cincinnati Reds on Wednesday. Hilliard is seeing regular playing time in Atlanta's outfield with Michael Harris II (back) on the injured list, and he's impressed with a .333 batting average (7-for-21) with three doubles, an RBI, two steals and four runs scored, although he's also struck out 11 times in just 24 plate appearances. The 29-year-old will only be useful to those in deeper leagues for a little while longer with Harris expected to come off the injured list at some point next week.
Atlanta Braves outfielder Sam Hilliard is back in the starting lineup on Tuesday after coming off the bench on Monday. With Michael Harris II on the 10-day injured list, Hilliard is getting an opportunity to put his decent power/speed combination to work against the visiting Cincinnati Reds and right-hander Luis Cessa. While the lefty-swinging Hilliard benefitted from the league's hitter-friendliest venue at Coors Field in Colorado in parts of four seasons to begin his career he also owns a strong .199 isolated power in parks not named Coors Field. He's also ranked in the 85th percentile or better in Statcast's spring speed metric in each of his four first MLB seasons including 93rd or better in each of his first three. He could be a sneaky DFS streaming option on Tuesday.
Atlanta Braves outfielder Sam Hilliard is not in the team's starting lineup for Monday's series opener against the Cincinnati Reds. Hilliard has become the team's starting center fielder with Michael Harris II (back) on the injured list, but he'll take a seat for some rest on Monday. The 29-year-old has gone 5-for-15 (.333) to begin the year with a double in five games played, and he should continue to see plenty of playing time in Atlanta's outfield until Harris is able to return. With Hilliard sitting out on Monday, Eli White will get the nod in center field and will hit ninth against Reds right-hander Graham Ashcraft. White has hit just .185 with nine home runs and 28 RBI in 131 career MLB games to this point.
Sam Hilliard
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