ProfileHt.: 5'11" / Wt.: 200 / Bats: R / Throws: R
School
Stephen F. Austin State
Debut08/15/2010
Drafted in the 13th round (412th overall) by the St. Louis Cardinals in 2007.
Top Rankings
Organization Prospect Rankings
In a pinch for a backup catcher because of injuries at the higher levels, the Cardinals promoted Hill in August and saw what keeps him moving through the system. On a 1-0 pitch in his only game, Hill launched an opposite field home run for his first major league hit. It was one of 25 homers the slugger hit in 2010, and it confirmed what the Cardinals already knew: the bat plays. Finding a place where Hill can get in the lineup is the quest. Stocky and strong, he has a short, swift, power-packed swing that bruises mistakes and can drive the ball to all fields. He isn't a great hitter for average and doesn't shore up his approach with two strikes. Hill got ample playing time at catcher, though he remains clunky at what really is his third position. He has difficulty blocking balls, and despite arm strength he's inconsistent under fire. He erased 34 percent of basestealers last season. Limited range at third makes him a better option at first, and he has taken some reps in the outfield, but he's a well below-average runner. Hill projects as a power bat off the bench, and his fringe ability at a variety of positions, especially moonlighting at catcher, makes that more of a possibility. He'll battle for a major league bench job in spring training.
After three pro seasons, Hill still finds himself without a definite position, bouncing from catcher to first base to the outfield corners. The constant remains his bat. He has cracked 48 homers in 268 pro games, after hitting 31 homers in his lone season at Eastfield (Texas) JC and a school-record 38 longballs in two years at Stephen F. Austin State. The Cardinals drafted him 412th overall in 2007, intrigued by his power and his ability to play multiple positions. His bat speed and strength allow him to drive the ball to all fields. His aggressive approach may catch up to him at higher levels, but he has hit .298 in pro ball while reaching Double-A. Short and stocky, Hill is a below-average athlete and runner who would enhance his chances of carving out a big league role if he could handle the defensive responsibilities of catching. He has enough arm strength, but his inconsistent release undermines his throwing and he nabbed just 21 percent of basestealers last season. He has improved his footwork and intuition with more experience behind the plate, but his receiving still needs polish. He lacks the desired height of a first baseman and has below-average range in the outfield, so his ultimate role could be as a righthanded power bat off the bench, capable of filling in at catcher. He'll move up to Triple-A in 2010.
Hill broke a couple of bones in his left hand when he was hit by a pitch in June, but it did little to slow him down. When he returned to the field to start a rehab assignment, he ripped three home runs in his first game back. Quick starts at the plate are nothing new for Hill. Taken 412th overall in the 2007 draft, he was the Southland Conference player of the year after hitting 24 homers for Stephen F. Austin State. He intrigued the Cardinals because he has a bat for many positions. He played first and had experience in the outfield, and the Cardinals thought he would be willing to catch, too. And while his defensive future is still up in the air, he has been a productive offensive player since signing. Hill has a punchy and forceful swing, with good bat speed and an ability to make solid contact to all fields. He went to the Arizona Fall League as a catcher to work on those skills, and he also hit .304 with three home runs. He's becoming more fluid behind the plate and starting to handle the nuances of the position better. A return to Double-A is likely, with more playing time at catcher this go-round while keeping his other gloves handy. His bat will play in the majors; he just has to find the position that gets him there.
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