Rockies' Sam Hilliard: Splitting time in left field
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Hilliard went 1-for-3 with a solo home run and a walk in Tuesday's 10-6 win over the Nationals.
Hilliard remains a part-time player, but he has started in left field in three of the Rockies' last six games. He launched his first home run Tuesday since May 30, though he does have a total of six extra-base hits across 39 plate appearances with Colorado.
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Rockies' Sam Hilliard: Sitting against righty again
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Hilliard is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Marlins.
After getting called up from Triple-A Albuquerque on Friday, Hilliard was on the bench for the Rockies' loss to the Mets that day but started against right-handed pitchers in each of the ensuing three games. Hilliard recorded three hits and drew a walk over 12 plate appearances in those contests, but the Rockies aren't yet prepared to hand him a regular starting role quite yet. The 31-year-old finds himself on the bench for a second consecutive matchup with a right-hander (Cal Quantrill) in Wednesday's series finale.
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Rockies' Sam Hilliard: Getting steady run in lineup
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Hilliard will start in left field and bat leadoff in Monday's game against the Marlins.
After being called up from Triple-A Albuquerque on Friday, Hilliard sat out against lefty David Petersen in the Rockies' series opener with the Mets, but he started versus right-handers in the final two contests of the weekend and will remain in the lineup again against righty Max Meyer as Colorado opens its series in Miami. Hilliard has gone 3-for-7 with a solo home run and a walk since his call-up, and while he's swinging a hot bat, he looks like he'll get the chance to play regularly for a Rockies squad that's desperate for impact bats.
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Rockies' Sam Hilliard: Launches homer in 2025 debut
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Hilliard went 1-for-1 with a solo home run in Friday's 4-2 loss to the Mets.
Hilliard was brought on to the Rockies' 26-man roster before Friday's game as his contract was selected from Triple-A Albuquerque. He pinch hit for Tyler Freeman in the seventh inning, and Hilliard took advantage of the opportunity by taking Huascar Brazoban deep to right-center field for a solo home run. Hilliard is unlikely to see regular playing time but could see some spot starts in the outfield.
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Rockies' Sam Hilliard: Contract selected Friday
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The Rockies selected Hilliard's contract from Triple-A Albuquerque on Friday.
Hilliard was designated for assignment in late March after missing out on Colorado's Opening Day roster, but he'll receive another chance in the big leagues after posting a .288/.372/.538 slash line with six homers and five steals in 40 games with Albuquerque. The 31-year-old had an .812 OPS in 158 plate appearances with the Rockies last season but isn't likely to have a regular spot in the lineup.
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Rockies' Sam Hilliard: Designated for assignment
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The Rockies designated Hilliard for assignment Thursday, Patrick Saunders of The Denver Post reports.
The move frees a spot on the 40-man roster for Mickey Moniak, who was officially signed Thursday. Hilliard had an .812 OPS in 58 games with Colorado last season, but he posted a .489 OPS and 48.2 percent strikeout rate this spring and it cost him a job. He could draw interest on waivers from a team in need of outfield help.
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Rockies' Sam Hilliard: Significant struggles this spring
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Hilliard has gone 2-for-21 with 11 strikeouts in Cactus League action.
Hilliard was expected to make the Opening Day roster as the primary backup center fielder, with a chance to also start at a corner position. His defense could still earn him a roster spot, but Sean Bouchard's strong start to spring training is hurting Hilliard's outlook, per Patrick Saunders of the Denver Post.
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Rockies' Sam Hilliard: Likely for Opening Day roster
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Hilliard is likely to compete for a starting corner outfield spot during spring training, Patrick Saunders of the Denver Post reports.
Hilliard is very likely to have a roster spot as the primary backup to Brenton Doyle in center field. He'll also compete for a corner outfield spot -- presumably right field -- with the likes of Jordan Beck and Sean Bouchard. Beck could be in the best position to earn the job out of spring training, though both he and Hilliard ended the 2024 campaign in the majors.
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Rockies' Sam Hilliard: Avoids arbitration with Colorado
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Hilliard agreed to a one-year, $1 million contract with the Rockies on Friday to avoid arbitration, Mark Feinsand of MLB.com reports.
The 30-year-old finished the 2024 campaign as a regular in Colorado's outfield, so it's not a major surprise he was tendered a contract for 2025. Hilliard played in 58 big-league games and had 10 home runs with a .239/.305/.507 slash line, though he also struck out at a 35.4 percent clip.
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Rockies' Sam Hilliard: Provides lone run in loss
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Hilliard went 1-for-3 with a solo home run and a walk in Sunday's 2-1 loss to the Dodgers.
Hilliard opened the scoring with a second-inning homer, but that was the lone run the Rockies could muster in their season finale. This was Hilliard's 10th homer of the campaign, five of which he hit over his last 15 games. He added a .239/.305/.507 slash line with 27 RBI, 26 runs scored and five stolen bases over 158 plate appearances.
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Rockies' Sam Hilliard: Gaining foothold in lineup
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Hilliard will start in right field and bat sixth in Wednesday's game against the Cardinals.
Hilliard will stick in the lineup for the sixth game in a row, this time occupying right field after his previous five starts came in either center or left field. The 30-year-old has earned the uptick in playing time by going 5-for-18 with a home run, a double, two walks, a stolen base, three RBI and three runs over the previous five contests.
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Rockies' Sam Hilliard: Belts homer Friday
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Hilliard went 1-for-3 with a solo home run and a walk in Friday's 6-4 loss to the Dodgers.
Hilliard has produced when in the lineup in September, going 8-for-26 (.308) with four homers and 10 RBI over his last 10 contests. He's picking up extra playing time with Brenton Doyle slowed by knee and finger issues this month. In a part-time role, Hilliard has nine homers, 26 RBI, 24 runs scored and four stolen bases while slashing .261/.320/.548 over 131 plate appearances this season.
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Rockies' Sam Hilliard: Comes up clutch Saturday
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Hilliard hit a two-run home run in Saturday's 6-5 extra-inning win over the Rockies.
Hilliard delivered a game-tying, two-out blast in the ninth inning, and the Rockies went on to win in the 10th. Over his last nine games, Hilliard has four homers and eight RBI. The outfielder is at a .248/.302/.533 slash line with eight long balls, 23 RBI, 22 runs scored and four stolen bases over 119 plate appearances this season. He continues to fill a depth role for the Rockies, rotating in as a reserve outfielder versus right-handed pitchers.
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Rockies' Sam Hilliard: Homers in back-to-back games
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Hilliard went 1-for-4 with a three-run home run Sunday against the Brewers.
Hilliard remains a part-time player in the Colorado outfield, but he has made starts in all three positions. When given a chance, he's been impactful with the bat, slugging three homers with six RBI and five runs scored across his last 19 at-bats.
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Rockies' Sam Hilliard: Homers in loss
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Hilliard went 1-for-4 with a solo home run in a 9-8 loss to the Marlins on Tuesday.
Hilliard has started consecutive games in center field while Brenton Doyle (leg) is dealing with an injury. Playing time has been inconsistent for Hilliard in August, though he's batting a respectable .282 (11-for-39) with five extra-base hits and eight RBI this month. The outfielder is at a .247/.298/.471 slash line with five homers, 16 RBI, 17 runs scored and four stolen bases over 97 plate appearances this season.
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Rockies' Sam Hilliard: Three more hits in win
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Hilliard went 3-for-4 with a run scored in Sunday's 9-8 win over Atlanta.
Prior to this weekend, Hilliard went 2-for-18 over his previous 12 games, but he responded with consecutive three-hit efforts Saturday and Sunday. The outfielder is up to a .277/.338/.508 slash line with four home runs, 13 RBI, 15 runs scored, four stolen bases and three doubles over 77 plate appearances. While his bat has come to life, he still doesn't have a guaranteed place in the lineup, and he's likely to be limited to a platoon role at best.
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Rockies' Sam Hilliard: Huge performance in loss
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Hilliard went 3-for-4 with two doubles, a home run, five RBI and two runs scored in Saturday's loss to Atlanta.
Hilliard was locked in Saturday, launching a three-run shot on a hanging curveball from Max Fried in his first at-bat before smacking a two-run double with two outs in his second trip to the plate, tying the game at 5-5. The outfielder's three hits in the contest marked a season high, as did his five RBI. The multi-hit effort was his third of the campaign.
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Rockies' Sam Hilliard: Drives in two
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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.
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Rockies' Sam Hilliard: On bench against LHP
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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.
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Rockies' Sam Hilliard: Hitting bench against southpaw
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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.
