Hilliard isn't in the Rockies' lineup for Tuesday's game against the Red Sox.
After hitting a two-run homer during Monday's victory, Hilliard will get a breather Tuesday while Jake Cave starts in left field and bats seventh.
... See More... See Less
Rockies' Sam Hilliard: Drives in two
Rotowire
Hilliard went 1-for-4 with a two-run home run in Monday's extra-innings win against the Red Sox.
Hilliard blasted a clutch home run in the 10th inning to tie the game at 7-7. It was his third homer of the season, and he's also hit .290 with five RBI and seven runs scored across 13 games in July. Hilliard is currently locked into a large-side platoon role in left field, though the impending returns of Nolan Jones (back) and Kris Bryant (oblique) will likely jeopardize his playing time.
... See More... See Less
Rockies' Sam Hilliard: On bench against LHP
Rotowire
Hilliard is out of the lineup for Friday's game against the Giants.
The lefty-hitting Hilliard will avoid a matchup with southpaw Kyle Harrison on Friday. In his place, Sean Bouchard will bat eighth and play left field.
... See More... See Less
Rockies' Sam Hilliard: Hitting bench against southpaw
Rotowire
Hilliard is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Mets.
The lefty-hitting Hilliard looks on track to serve as the Rockies' primary option in left field while Nolan Jones (back) is on the injured list, but Hilliard will likely hit the bench when the Rockies face southpaws. With lefty Jose Quintana taking the hill for the Mets on Sunday, Sean Bouchard will step in as the starter in left field in place of Hilliard, who had 5-for-13 with two home runs, one double, one stolen base, one walk, three RBI and three runs over the previous four contests.
... See More... See Less
Rockies' Sam Hilliard: Surprising source of power
Rotowire
Hilliard went 2-for-4 with two home runs and three RBI in Wednesday's 6-5 win over the Reds.
Hilliard's playing time has been limited since the Rockies selected his contract from Triple-A Albuquerque on June 21. He got the start in center field Wednesday and delivered a big game from the bottom of the order, hitting his first two homers of the season. The outfielder is 4-for-15 (.267) with two stolen bases and six runs scored over 18 plate appearances this season. At best, Hilliard is a fourth or fifth outfielder for the Rockies, especially since the team already has a trio of left-handed-hitting outfielders ahead of him on the depth chart.
... See More... See Less
Rockies' Sam Hilliard: Contract selected by Colorado
Rotowire
The Rockies selected the contract of Hilliard from Triple-A Albuquerque on Friday.
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.
... See More... See Less
Rockies' Sam Hilliard: Set to join big club
Rotowire
The Rockies are set to select Hilliard's contract from Triple-A Albuquerque, Luke Zahlmann of The Denver Gazette reports.
Hilliard began the year in the minors, and over 65 games he has a slash line of .288/.374/.542 with 14 home runs, 44 RBI and 13 stolen bases over 305 plate appearances. Hilliard's promotion comes with Charlie Blackmon headed to the injured list due to a strained right hamstring.
... See More... See Less
Rockies' Sam Hilliard: Outrighted to Triple-A
Rotowire
Hilliard cleared waivers Saturday and was sent outright to Triple-A Albuquerque, Thomas Harding of MLB.com reports.
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.
... See More... See Less
Rockies' Sam Hilliard: Booted off 40-man roster
Rotowire
The Rockies designated Hilliard for assignment Thursday.
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.
... See More... See Less
Rockies' Sam Hilliard: Back in Colorado via waivers
Rotowire
The Rockies claimed Hilliard off waivers from the Orioles on Wednesday, Thomas Harding of MLB.com reports.
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.
... See More... See Less
Orioles' Sam Hilliard: Agrees to salary with O's
Rotowire
Hilliard (heel) signed a one-year, $800,000 contract with the Orioles on Friday, avoiding arbitration, Jon Heyman of the New York Post reports.
Hilliard was claimed off waivers from Atlanta on Nov. 1 and is now locked into a guaranteed salary with the O's for the 2024 campaign. The 29-year-old currently projects to serve as a fourth outfielder and bench bat in Baltimore.
... See More... See Less
Orioles' Sam Hilliard: Claimed by Baltimore
Rotowire
Baltimore claimed Hilliard (heel) off waivers from Atlanta on Wednesday.
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.
... See More... See Less
Braves' Sam Hilliard: Shifted to 60-day IL
Rotowire
Hilliard (heel) was transferred to the 60-day injured list Friday, Grant McAuley of 92.9 The Game reports.
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 timeline for his return after having a setback with his right heel last month.
... See More... See Less
Braves' Sam Hilliard: Begins rehab assignment
Rotowire
Hilliard (heel) will begin a rehab assignment Tuesday with Triple-A Gwinnett.
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.
... See More... See Less
Braves' Sam Hilliard: Goes on IL with heel bruise
Rotowire
Atlanta placed Hilliard on the 10-day injured list Wednesday with a right heel contusion.
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.
... See More... See Less
Braves' Sam Hilliard: Gets rare start Sunday
Rotowire
Hilliard went 0-for-2 in Sunday's loss to the White Sox.
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.
... See More... See Less
Braves' Sam Hilliard: Loses hold of regular role
Rotowire
Hilliard remains out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Orioles.
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.
... See More... See Less
Braves' Sam Hilliard: On bench for matinee
Rotowire
Hilliard is not in the starting lineup for Game 1 of Monday's doubleheader with the Mets.
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.
... See More... See Less
Braves' Sam Hilliard: Sitting in Harris' return
Rotowire
Hilliard isn't in Atlanta's lineup for Friday's game against the Mets.
With Michael Harris (back) returning to action, Hilliard no longer has a clear path to playing time in center field. The 29-year-old has hit well enough this season to be more than a bench player though, and he could form a platoon in left field with Kevin Pillar, who will bat eighth Friday against left-hander David Peterson.
... See More... See Less
Braves' Sam Hilliard: Absent from lineup
Rotowire
Hilliard is not in Atlanta's lineup for Thursday's game against the Marlins.
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.
